ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: When venous access via the upper venous tree is not possible, the usual approach is to proceed to epicardial lead placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This report presents a consecutive series of 12 permanent pacemaker systems utilizing the right femoral vein for venous access implanted between May 2001 and October 2004. RESULTS: A modification of the previously reported surgical technique was used with a mean implant time of 52 minutes. Five were dual-chamber systems and seven were VVIR. All the leads implanted were active fixation. There was a 0% dislodgment rate and a mean follow-up of 18 months. During this time, three patients required revision or treatment of a pocket complication. All systems remained in the pacing mode as originally programmed with stable low sensing and pacing thresholds. There was no clinical evidence for acute or chronic venous thrombosis and no evidence of asymptomatic venous obstruction in eight patients who underwent echo-duplex studies. CONCLUSION: We believe that the permanent femoral implant utilizing the technical modifications described in this article, offers an alternative to epicardial lead placement when the usual upper venous tree access is not available.
