Evaluation of body weight as a predictive factor for transvenous ventricular defibrillation characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between body weight and defibrillation threshold (DFT) for transvenous lead systems using a porcine model.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight pigs were anaesthetised and DFTs assessed in single and dual coil configurations using a four-reversal binary search method. DFT was correlated with body weight in the RV --> Can and RV --> SVC + Can configurations. A Pearson correlation coefficient and a two-sided p-value were calculated. A positive correlation exists between body weight and DFT in RV --> Can (r=0.66, p<0.000) and RV --> SVC + Can (r=0.44, p=0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant correlation between body weight and DFT in swine. This tends to be greater in the two-electrode than in the three-electrode configuration. With these and previous human observations, one may predict a higher DFT in heavy individuals and make appropriate procedural adjustments.
Paisey
J R
JR
Wessex Cardiothoracic Centre, Southampton, UK. johnpaisey@doctors.org.uk
Betts
T
T
Allen
S
S
Morgan
J M
JM
Roberts
P R
PR
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*