Biomaterial Database

[Cardiac pacing in Sicily (author's transl)]. 1978

A Galassi, and S Mangiameli

We report the experience in Sicily, where more than 3000 pacemakers have been implanted in different Schools of Medicine and Hospitals (Agrigento, Catania, Messina, Palermo and Ragusa). Our personal experience (Cardiology Division--Catania) is 846 cases up to June 1977. We would like to stress that today the sick sinus syndrome and other pathological conditions not due to complete AV block are of increasing incidence as an indication to definitive electrostimulation. In addition, the average age of patients is getting lower, and more PM-demand and lithium powered PM are implanted. The most used implant technique has been through the cephalic vein. Today it is possible to have more distant controls mainly because of the oscilloscopic evaluation technique. Mortality during surgery and immediately post-surgery is very low, and the bioelectric complications are very rare. In conclusion, we would suggest: 1) a strict cooperation with a Cardio-surgery Division; 2) the utilization of more sophisticated techniques to make controls less frequent and more rapid and easy (e.g. telephone controls); 3) a more modern and correct law on this issue and a better information of the public, involving educational, social and medical structures so that the patient with a pacemaker can live in his family with a recovery for work and society.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D002304	Cardiac Pacing, Artificial	Regulation of the rate of contraction of the heart muscles by an artificial pacemaker.	Pacing, Cardiac, Artificial,Artificial Cardiac Pacing,Artificial Cardiac Pacings,Cardiac Pacings, Artificial,Pacing, Artificial Cardiac,Pacings, Artificial Cardiac
D006327	Heart Block	Impaired conduction of cardiac impulse that can occur anywhere along the conduction pathway, such as between the SINOATRIAL NODE and the right atrium (SA block) or between atria and ventricles (AV block). Heart blocks can be classified by the duration, frequency, or completeness of conduction block. Reversibility depends on the degree of structural or functional defects.	Auriculo-Ventricular Dissociation,A-V Dissociation,Atrioventricular Dissociation,A V Dissociation,A-V Dissociations,Atrioventricular Dissociations,Auriculo Ventricular Dissociation,Auriculo-Ventricular Dissociations,Block, Heart,Blocks, Heart,Dissociation, A-V,Dissociation, Atrioventricular,Dissociation, Auriculo-Ventricular,Dissociations, A-V,Dissociations, Atrioventricular,Dissociations, Auriculo-Ventricular,Heart Blocks
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D012802	Sicily	An island located in the Mediterranean Sea and governed by Italy,
D012804	Sick Sinus Syndrome	A condition caused by dysfunctions related to the SINOATRIAL NODE including impulse generation (CARDIAC SINUS ARREST) and impulse conduction (SINOATRIAL EXIT BLOCK). It is characterized by persistent BRADYCARDIA, chronic ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, and failure to resume sinus rhythm following CARDIOVERSION. This syndrome can be congenital or acquired, particularly after surgical correction for heart defects.	Sinus Node Dysfunction,Sick Sinus Node Syndrome,Sinus Node Disease,Dysfunction, Sinus Node,Dysfunctions, Sinus Node,Sinus Node Diseases,Syndrome, Sick Sinus
D013223	Statistics as Topic	Works about the science and art of collecting, summarizing, and analyzing data that are subject to random variation.	Area Analysis,Estimation Technics,Estimation Techniques,Indirect Estimation Technics,Indirect Estimation Techniques,Multiple Classification Analysis,Service Statistics,Statistical Study,Statistics, Service,Tables and Charts as Topic,Analyses, Area,Analyses, Multiple Classification,Area Analyses,Classification Analyses, Multiple,Classification Analysis, Multiple,Estimation Technic, Indirect,Estimation Technics, Indirect,Estimation Technique,Estimation Technique, Indirect,Estimation Techniques, Indirect,Indirect Estimation Technic,Indirect Estimation Technique,Multiple Classification Analyses,Statistical Studies,Studies, Statistical,Study, Statistical,Technic, Indirect Estimation,Technics, Estimation,Technics, Indirect Estimation,Technique, Estimation,Technique, Indirect Estimation,Techniques, Estimation,Techniques, Indirect Estimation