[Successful treatment of a supraventricular re-entry tachycardia in a patient with WPW and sick-sinus syndrome with permanent rapid atrial and QRS-inhibited ventricular pacemaker stimulation (author's transl)].

A supraventricular re-entry tachycardia was successfully treated in a patient with WPW and sick-sinus syndrome by permanent rapid atrial pacing and ventricular demand pacing. The use of a demand pacemaker with bipolar electrode avoided slow ventricular rates resulting from second degree A-V block during rapid atrial pacing. The trigger system of this pacemaker was not disturbed by unipolar atrial stimulation. Ventricular rates responded satisfactorily to physical and to emotional stress as a result of improved A-V conduction in these circumstances. Rapid atrial pacing has prevented the re-entry tachycardia. In an emergency the atrial pacemaker can be inhibited by a magnet, but otherwise discharges permanently at a constant rapid rate.