[Pacemaker treatment in Greenland].

In a retrospective survey, treatment with pacemakers in Greenland during the 29 year period of August 1962-August 1991 is described, and the 179 Greenlandic patients treated are investigated. The annual rate of first-time pacemaker implantation is today 200 per million in Greenland, compared to 238 per million in Denmark; the population in Greenland is young, and according to the age distribution 75% more patients are operated in Greenland. Two-thirds are men and one-third women, mean age of 68 years (range 41-85 years). The Greenlandic patients are younger than patients in Denmark. About two-thirds are treated for atrioventricular block and one-third for sick sinus syndrome. Seventy-four patients were implanted with epicardial leads, which functioned for an average of 3.4 years. The mean time for the period of pacemaker treatment was five years. Eighty-four percent of the patients operated between May 1983 and August 1991, are still alive. In the same period, the rate of operative complications was 12%, and two patients died because of infection.