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High Rate of Late Dislodgements of an Active Fixation Atrial Lead
Author(s) -
NOWAK BERND,
VOIGTLAENDER THOMAS,
BECKER HANSJUERGEN
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1993.tb01811.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fixation (population genetics) , atrium (architecture) , lead (geology) , cardiology , right atrium , surgery , implant , atrial fibrillation , population , environmental health , geomorphology , geology
Between May 1985 and May 1991 we implanted 115 DFH‐leads as unipolar atrial leads. The active fixation mechanism of this electrode consists of two sickle‐shaped anchoring hooks which are placed at a distance of 0.9 mm parallel to the distal flat end of the electrode. All leads were affixed to the free wall of the right atrium. One hundred eight leads (93.9%) were implanted for dual chamber pacing and seven leads (6.1%) for single chamber atrial pacing. Parameters measured at implantation were (mean values): stimulation threshold 1.06 ± 0.42 V at 0.5 msec pulse width, P wave amplitude 5.12 ± 2.04 mV, and lead impedance 560 ± 76.1 Ohms. Within the first week after implantation, three early dislodgements occurred (2.6%). The follow‐up period averaged 30.4 ± 16.2 months (range 2–76 months). During this time, 14 late macrodislodgements (12.2%) occurred after a mean period of 18.4 months (range 2–59 months). All of them required reoperation. The active fixation mechanism of the DEH‐lead appears to be unreliable, if implanted in the free wall of the right atrium for dual chamber pacing.