Venogram-guided extrathoracic subclavian vein puncture.
BACKGROUND
Subclavian vein puncture is commonly performed to insert the pacing lead for permanent pacemaker implantation. Our aim was to study the safety and feasibility of venogram-guided extrathoracic subclavian vein puncture for permanent pacemaker lead insertion.


RESULTS
Sixty patients (32 males, and 28 females) underwent permanent pacemaker lead insertion by extrathoracic subclavian vein puncture at our institute between March 2002 and December 2002. Fifteen patients underwent dual-chamber and 45 single-chamber pacemaker implantation. All the patients underwent extrathoracic subclavian vein puncture guided by venogram, except 1 who underwent dual-chamber pacemaker implantation in whom the ventricular lead insertion was via the cephalic vein on an elective basis. The procedure was successful in all the patients. Inadvertent subclavian artery puncture occurred in 2 patients without any complication. There was no incidence of pneumothorax, hemothorax or pacemaker site infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Venogram-guided extrathoracic subclavian vein puncture is safe and successful. It may be adopted as one of the preferred approaches for permanent pacemaker lead insertion.
Department of Cardiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. kskdora@hotmail.com
Santosh Kumar
SK
Dora
V K Ajith
VK
Kumar
Anil
A
Bhat
Jaganmohan A
JA
Tharakan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D010690:Phlebography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*
D003287:Contrast Media