Experience with a lead fixation/suture sleeve.

Current anchoring systems on pacemaker leads are crude in comparison to the lead technology. Poor anchoring technique may cause damage to the lead or early displacement from incorrect suture tension. We describe experience with a locking anchoring sleeve that applies a constant gripping force to the lead body. This can be locked and unlocked to allow optimal positioning after fixation of the sleeve to underlying tissues. The sleeve was fitted to a 55D polyurethane lead (Medtronic 4024, 7 Fr, bipolar, steroid eluting) implanted in the ventricular position in 22 patients at four European centers. All implants were uncomplicated; data were collected on handling and ease of use. Assessments were made using a scale of 1-10 (10 = excellent, 5 = equivalent to conventional sleeve). Overall ease of use compared to conventional sleeve was 7.79 +/- 0.62 (mean +/- SD). Mean scoring of flexibility of the lead at the transition points was 7.92 +/- 0.72; ability to lock/unlock the sleeve scored 6.28 +/- 1.78. Ease of suturing around the sleeve scored 8.07 +/- 0.77, and ability to slide the sleeve along the lead body scored 6.48 +/- 1.99. Chest X rays at 6 weeks showed no change in lead position with respect to postimplant films, and all leads showed a straight path on either side of the sleeve with no evidence of conductor distortion. Follow-up to 3 years has been without problem. All leads remain intact and in place, with stable thresholds and no evidence of erosion. There have been no complaints of patient discomfort. We conclude that this device is safe and effective and offers a significant advance in lead fixation.

Lead dislodgment of a permanent pacemaker due to removal of a temporary pacing electrode.

A 63-year-old male received a transvenous temporary pacemaker for bradyarrhythmia following mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplasty. A transvenous permanent pacemaker was implanted the following day due to persistence of the bradyarrythmia and pacemaker dependency of the patient. Later the same day during removal of the temporary pacing electrode the permanent pacing lead was dislodged and had to be operatively repositioned. To avoid this complication, the position of pacemaker leads should be checked postoperatively with a frontal and lateral chest radiograph, and fluoroscopy should be used during removal of a temporary lead.

Aneurysm of the superior mesenteric vein.

A superior mesenteric vein aneurysm was diagnosed by ultrasound, computed tomography, and angiography in a 55-year-old woman. It was successfully treated by partial resection and reconstruction of the confluent veins.

[The intracardial ECG during permanent pacemaker-implantation (author's transl)]. / Das intrakardiale EKG im Rahmen der permanenten Schrittmacherimplantation

As our researches and prevailing procedures have proved a permanent pervenous pacer implantation necessitates an additional intra-cardial ECG in parallel with the practised approach under fluoroscopy and by measuring the threshold current. The patho-physiological prerequisites are explained in detail. By means of the characteristic shape of the ST-elevation and the determination of the amplitude in mV, deciding factors for an advantageous position of the electrode may be gained. In order to ensure safe function of the demand mechanism monitoring by an intra-cardial ECG to establish a sufficient signal amplitude in mV is indispensable. This is particularly applicable in case of leads with a small surface area resulting in a low threshold current value and a low amplitude of QRS-signals.