[Sinus node function test--diagnostic value and methodologic limits].

By means of atrial stimulation methods for the establishment of the sinus node recovery time and for the indirect calculation of the so-called sinuatrial conduction time under certain methodical conditions disturbances of the sinus node automatism and of the sinuatrial conduction may be differentiated and moreover latent dysfunctions of the sinus node may be unmasked. Methodical problems in the recognition of the sinus node recovery time by higher-frequent atrial stimulation and the calculation of the sinuatrial conduction time by programmed atrial single or double manifold stimulation result above all on that account, since the various factors which determine the reaction of the sinus node in atrial stimulation are not to be surveyed in the individual case. Since there are no obligatory and reliable criteria for the judgment of the function of the sinus node a statement on sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic stimulation methods is scarcely possible. With regard to a therapeutic decision aid a higher-frequent stimulation for the determination of the sinus node recovery time is of greater importance than the calculation of the sinuatrial conduction time. For the identification of a disturbed function of the sinus node the two parameters make a diagnostic contribution of approximately the same value.