Australia and New Zealand Pacemaker Survey, 1972 *

During 1972, cardiac pacemaking experience in Australia and New Zealand was surveyed. Twenty cardiovascular units in 10 major cities supplied information concerning implantation of 676 generators. There were 341 first implants and 335 replacements. A transvenous pacemaker system was used for pacemaking in 305 (89%) of the 341 patients receiving their first implants. The early mortality in the group receiving a transvenous system was significantly less than the mortality amongst the 32 patients who had a thoracotomy for the establishment of either intramyocardial or epicardial electrodes. There was a growing tendency to implant ventricular synchronous and ventricular inhibited generators in preference to the asynchronous types of generators. The generators were supplied by a wide range of manufacturers which included the Australian manufacturer Telectronics, Elema of Sweden, Medtronics from the United States and Devices from the United Kingdom. As a result of the survey a simple recording form, designed for computer analysis, has been developed and is recommended for progressive record keeping.