THE "NEW FRONTIERS" OF ARRHYTHMIAS 1998

RT-59	Does dual chamber pacing prevent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in brady-tachy patients?


G. Boriani¹, G.L. Botto², L. Frabetti¹, M. Biffi¹, F. Bellocci³, D. Bernabo⁴, A. Capucci⁵, P. Dini³, G. Leoni⁶, F. Lisi⁷, A. Marchini⁸, P.V. Moracchini⁹, G. Nicotra¹⁰, P. Nigro⁷, A. Puglisi³, R. Ricci³, A. Spampinato³, S. Cavaglia¹¹, F. De Seta¹¹, and the ISSAF Group. ¹Bologna, ²Como, ³Roma, ⁴La Spezia, ⁵Piacenza, ⁶Seriate, ⁷Catania, ⁸Brescia, ⁹Modena, ¹⁰Gorizia, ¹¹Medtronic Italia, Italy

Abstract
	The efficacy of DDDR and DDD pacing modes in preventing PAF episodes in pts with brady-tachycardia syndrome and chronotropic incompetence was evaluated in a prospective, controlled, randomized, multicenter study. Preliminary results confirm that DDD pacing has a marked antiarrhythmic effect in pts with B-T form of SSS and CI. In these pts DDDR mode shows an addictional advantage regarding the prevention of symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes of PAF. However, final results with follow-up at 6 months for all enrolled pts, will be helpful to definitively assess the antiarrhythmogenic potential of DDDR pacing.
Key Words
	Atrial fibrillation recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, atrial pacing, dual chamber pacemaker, bradi-tachycardia patients, sinus sick syndrome, chronotropic incompetence, OA

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