Early experience with permanent pacemaker implantation at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Introduction: artificial pacemakers generate electrical impulses and regulate the heart&acutes conduction system. They are often used to treat individuals with bradycardia. Permanent pacemaker implantation is a lifesaving procedure especially in patients with symptomatic bradyarrhythmias. The objectives was to evaluate the clinical attributes and outcomes of permanent pacemaker implantation in Ile-ife, Nigeria.

Methods: we retrospectively reviewed medical records of 22 patients who had pacemaker implantation from January 2015 to December 2019. Patient´s demographics, clinical presentation, diagnosis, comorbidities, type of device, complications and long-term follow up were studied.

Results: sixteen males (72.7%) and 6 females (27.3%) were recruited into the study with ages ranging between 54 and 84 years and a mean of 70.3 +8.7 years. The commonest symptom was easy fatigability (45.5%) followed by syncope (31.8%). The main indication for permanent pacemaker implantation was complete heart block (86.4%). Seventeen (77.3%) patients had hypertension as the comorbidity present at diagnosis. Single chamber (VVIR) pacemaker was implanted in 13(59.1%) patients while dual chamber (DDDR) was implanted in 9(40.9%) patients. Hematoma, pneumothorax and acute lead dislodgement were the complications observed in 3 patients. There was no statistical significance between the type of device implanted and the occurrence of complications, p-value 0. 186. There was no mortality and 15 patients (68.2%) are currently attending regular 6 monthly follow-up.

Conclusion: complete heart block is the most common indication for permanent pacemaker implantation and the procedure is safe with minimal complications and satisfactory outcomes.