Treating Heart Block With a Pacemaker

Abstract

Since April 1959, the authors have implanted cardiac pacemakers, mostly by the left thoracic approach, in 78 patients. In 66 cases, they used a Chardack pacemaker, and in 14, a transvenous pacemaker. Twelve patients died in 30 days or less after implantation, and 16 before one year. Fifty-nine patients are still living. With the left thoracic approach, no deaths occurred at operation.