title: High rate of late dislodgements of an active fixation atrial lead.
abstract: Between May 1985 and May 1991 we implanted 115 DFH-leads as unipolar atrial leads. The active fixation mechanism of this electrode consists of two sickle-shaped anchoring hooks which are placed at a distance of 0.9 mm parallel to the distal flat end of the electrode. All leads were affixed to the free wall of the right atrium. One hundred eight leads (93.9%) were implanted for dual chamber pacing and seven leads (6.1%) for single chamber atrial pacing. Parameters measured at implantation were (mean values): stimulation threshold 1.06 +/- 0.42 V at 0.5 msec pulse width, P wave amplitude 5.12 +/- 2.04 mV, and lead impedance 560 +/- 76.1 Ohms. Within the first week after implantation, three early dislodgements occurred (2.6%). The follow-up period averaged 30.4 +/- 16.2 months (range 2-76 months). During this time, 14 late macrodislodgements (12.2%) occurred after a mean period of 18.4 months (range 2-59 months). All of them required reoperation. The active fixation mechanism of the DFH-lead appears to be unreliable, if implanted in the free wall of the right atrium for dual chamber pacing.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic I, Hanau City Hospital, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Voigtlaender
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies