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Azygos Vein Lead Implantation:
Author(s) -
CESARIO DAVID,
BHARGAVA MANDEEP,
VALDERRÁBANO MIGUEL,
FONAROW GREGG C.,
WILKOFF BRUCE,
SHIVKUMAR KALYANAM
Publication year - 2004
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.1540-8167.2004.03649.x
Subject(s) - medicine , azygos vein , lead (geology) , defibrillation , cardiology , implantable cardioverter defibrillator , radiology , geomorphology , geology
High defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) occasionally are encountered during placement of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). There are multiple strategies to lower DFTs in such patients, including reassessment of right ventricular lead position, alteration of the shock waveform, and implantation of subcutaneous arrays. This article describes a novel technique of implanting a high‐voltage lead in the azygos vein. This procedure may serve as an adjunctive approach to reduce DFTs. The anatomic location of the azygos vein posterior to the heart provides a suitable shocking vector between the right ventricular electrode, a high‐voltage lead placed in the azygos vein, and the ICD can. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 780‐783, July 2004)