[Inquiry of the Swiss Cardiology Society on long-term pacemakers in Switzerland in 1976 and 1977].

The Swiss Society of Cardiology has conducted a national inquiry into the state of pacing in Switzerland for the years 1976 and 1977. With a total of 1250 pacemakers implanted each year and a rate of first implantation of 146 per year and per million inhabitants, this study illustrates the methods of Swiss cardiologists and the problems which they meet in the field. It is generally agreed, as in other countries, that stimulation of the right ventricle by endocavitary approach with demand pacemakers generated by lithium batteries appears to be excellent for the moment. Pacemakers which can be programmed were not in widespread use during the period of this study. The incidence of various complications is considered.