title: The value of redundancy in chronic bipolar pacemaker electrode systems.
abstract: Bipolar pacing systems, because of the presence of two intracardiac electrodes, provide lead redundancy. This allows conversion of bipolar to unipolar pacing or the reversal of lead polarity. During a 3-year period, this redundancy was utilized in 34 (13.7%) of 248 patients with chronic bipolar lead systems during follow-up pacemaker surgery. Of the 34 patients, elective pulse generator change was the most frequent indication for surgery (23 patients) and in this group redundancy was used most often to select the lead configuration with the highest R-wave amplitude and lowest stimulation threshold, or to solve the problem of weld defects of the connector pins or frayed insulation. The remaining 11 patients underwent surgery for pacemaker system malfunction and in this group redundancy was used to avoid the need for lead repositioning or placement of a new catheter system. Lead redundancy in those patients in whom bipolar pacing has been selected provides flexibility at the time of additional pacemaker surgery, and its use may obviate the need for a change in catheter system when stimulation thresholds are excessive, wire fraction is irreparable, or bipolar sensing signals are inadequate.
mesh_terms: D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial