For the first time in 1966 vestibular stimulation has been applied. This idea is implemented in a patient with sinus node dysfunction and normal AV conduction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the time of AAI stimulation until the first reimplantation of stimulating system and to determine the cause of it.
Material and methods: Work is retrospective in nature. The analysis included 251 patients who were subjected to AAI pacemaker implantation in the period from December 1988 to January 2009. The group consisted of 150 women and 101 men. The average age of patients at the time of implantation of 62.0 +/- 13.3 years (17.3 -90.2). The median follow-up was 7.6 +/- 4.8 years (maximum 20.1 years). For each patient, Wenckebach point was above 130/min. Of the 251 patients, 98 were undergoing treatment reimplantation of stimulating system.
Results: The median time to stimulate the function of the type of AAI was 8.69 +/- 2.4 years. The main cause was the exhaustion of the battery replacement--91.8% of cases, but sometimes less damage to the electrodes--7.1% of cases. Duration does not depend on the gender of the patient, or to his age at the time of implantation.
Conclusions: The most common cause of reimplantation is battery exhausted. AAI stimulation is very effective treatment in the test group of patients.