[Exercise tolerance in evaluating the efficacy of continuous electrocardiostimulation in patients with atrioventricular block].

Fifty-three patients with brady-cardia were examined prior to and 1 year after the implantation of the cardiostimulator. It was found that the bicycle ergometric test was not contraindicated in examining the function of the respiration and circulation in patients with stable forms of bradyarrhythmia. Three types of the body's response to exercise were identified. It was shown that in patients with the third type of response the compensatory possibilities of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems were at the breaking point. The authors believe that electrocardiostimulation in them is of a doubtful value in terms of improving the quality of life and restoring the capacity for work. Implantation of cardiostimulators in such patients is mostly necessary in the presence of Morgagni-Edems-Stokes attacks.