UNEXPECTED RECURRENCE OF SINUS RHYTHM IN CHRONIC ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION DUE TO SICK SINUS DISEASE

A 60-years old patient with symptomatic sick sinus disease was implant ed a dual-chamber pacemaker that did well during the following 13 year s. Thereafter, the pacemaker had to be explanted because of a systemic infection, with the patient in constant chronic atrial fibrillation i n the meantime. After another asymptomatic year, 6 arrhythmogenic sync opes occurred, apparently due to pre-automatic pauses prior to spontan eous conversions to sinus rhythm. Subsequently, the patient was implan ted a WI pacemaker, whereupon he did well henceforth. This case demons trates the possibility of recurrence of sinus rhythm even after long-s tanding chronic atrial fibrillation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.