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Nonthoracotomy Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Placement in Children: Use of Subcutaneous Array Leads and Abdominally Placed Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators in Children
Author(s) -
GRADAUS RAINER,
HAMMEL DIETER,
KOTTHOFF STEFAN,
BÖCKER DIRK
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1046/j.1540-8167.2001.00356.x
Subject(s) - medicine , implantable cardioverter defibrillator , defibrillation , cardiology , thoracotomy , ventricle , defibrillation threshold , great arteries , tetralogy of fallot , tricuspid atresia , surgery , heart disease
Nonthoracotomy ICD in Children . Introduction : The need to access the right ventricle might preclude transvenous placement of a defibrillation lead at implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) placement, especially in small children or children with complex congenital heart defects. We investigated a subcutaneous array lead in addition to an abdominally placed “active can” ICD device in two children to avoid a thoracotomy. Methods and Results : The first child (age 12 years, 138 cm, 41 kg) had transposition of the great arteries with a subsequent surgical intra‐atrial correction by the Mustard technique. The second child (age 14 years, 161 cm, 54 kg) had a single atrium and a single ventricle, d‐transposition of the aorta, and atresia of the main pulmonary artery with a surgical anastomosis between the aorta and the right pulmonary artery by the Cooley technique. The defibrillation threshold was 18 J and < 20 J at initial implantation and at generator replacement in the first patient and 20 J in the second patient. During follow‐up of 6 years and 1 month, respectively, no ICD‐related complications occurred. Conclusion : In children in whom endocardial, right ventricular placement of a defibrillation lead is precluded, defibrillation is possible and safe between an abdominally placed “active can” ICD device and a subcutaneous array lead. This approach may avoid a thoracotomy in children with no possibility for transvenous ICD placement.