Search

A 70-year-old patient who had been fitted with a pacemaker for 27 years consulted his cardiologist to check the latest device, which had been changed in 1998. During the examination there was a sudden malfunction of the pacemaker, which became uncontrollable, resulting in an escape rhythm of 15 beats/min and circulatory insufficiency. Attempted treatment by isoprenaline and external transcutaneous systolic stimulation failed, and an intraventricular catheter was therefore positioned successfully as an emergency prehospital manoeuvre. This produced good haemodynamic stability, allowing the transfer of the patient to hospital where his pacemaker was changed.