Cardiac pacing.

The basic electrophysiology of temporary and permanent cardiac pacing is reviewed, as are the indications, the types of pacing systems, and the methods of implantation. Recent developments in power sources and leads are described. The mercury-zinc battery is now obsolete and is being replaced by lithium, rechargeable, and isotopic power systems. While ventricular pacing continues to be the standard, a brief review of atrial programmed systems is given, including atrial pacing and atrioventricular synchronized and atrioventricular sequential pacing. Conventional pacing is aimed at the control of symptomatic bradycardia. Brief reference is made to experimental pacing systems designed to control ventricular or supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.