[Complications in pacemaker treatment caused by electrodes (author's transl)].
A total of 531 transvenous and 240 thoraco-abdominal electrodes were implanted into 624 patients, the latter as part of a thoracotomy. The complication rate was 35% for transvenous and 33% for epicardial implantations. The most common complication with transvenous electrodes was dislocation (17%), followed by myocardial (5%) and skin perforation (2%). With epicardial electrodes the  complications were exit blocks (9%), disconnections (5.5%) and wire breaks (14%). These complication occurred in 1.5%, 2% and 4.5%, respectively, with transvenous electrodes. Electrode dislocations were particularly common in the  first year after implantation, while wire breaks became more common as the interval sinceimplantation increased. Overall there was, therefore, no significant difference in complication rate between the two types of electrodes. But the surgical and early mortality ratewas higher after epicardial implanation (with thoracotomy)than transvenous implantation (11% and 6%, respectively). Transvenous implantation is recommended not only for old but also foryoung  patients (with a long life expectancy), in combination with long-life pacemakers.
D000005:Abdomen; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013909:Thorax; D013997:Time Factors; D014680:Veins
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