title: Drug-eluting collar--a new approach to reducing threshold.
abstract: This study evaluated the clinical performance of leads with a drug-eluting (less than 0.5 mg of dexamethasone sodium phosphate) collar (DEC) placed adjacent to a 4-mm2 Pt/Ir coated electrode (Telectronics model 030-368). Ten trailing tined ventricular silicone DEC leads and ten control leads (model 030-359) were implanted transvenously in patients of comparable age, sex, and indication for pacing. Early threshold rise, chronic thresholds (Vario), and lead impedances were monitored by pacer telemetry. The DEC lead had substantially lower thresholds in the first few weeks (P less than 0.0005) as well as chronically (P less than 0.025). The study has shown that a drug dose of less than 0.5 mg, released from a drug-eluting collar (DEC), is effective in reducing thresholds.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cowling
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mathivanar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skalsky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D003907:Dexamethasone