Objective:
The aim of this report was to discuss validity of pacemaker surgery for elderly individuals over 90 years old.
Patient:
We operated on 12 individuals over 90 years old who had syncope or congestive heart failure in association with bradycardia, between January 2005 and November 2012.
Methods:
All 12 patients were referred to us by the cardiology department of our hospital for pacemaker surgery. We applied our routine technique: cutdown of the cephalic vein, creation of a subpectoral pocket, use of screw-in leads, and use of generators with an automatic output control system.
Results:
All of the patients received a dual chamber system with atrial and ventricular leads and recovered uneventfully. The follow-up period was between 1 month and 7 years.
Conclusion:
An advanced age over 90 years old is not a contraindication for pacemaker surgery.