Sheathless implantation of permanent coronary sinus-LV pacing leads.
BACKGROUND
Implantation of CS-LV pacing leads is usually accomplished through specialized sheaths with additional use of contrast venography and other steps. Direct implantation at a target pacing site could provide a simplified procedure with appropriate leads.


METHODS
A progressive CS-LV lead implant protocol was used, with initial attempts made to place the lead directly using only fluoroscopy and lead stylet or wire manipulation. Coronary sinus (CS) sheaths were only used later if direct lead placement failed.


RESULTS
There were 105 attempted implants with 96% (101/105) success. Leads were implanted sheathlessly in 69% (70/101) cases. Pacing parameters and final lead position did not differ significantly between implants that did or did not require sheaths for implants. Three peri-procedural complications occurred in implants where sheaths were used. In 33% (33/101) of implants, the leads were placed without the use of sheaths or contrast venography in 20 minutes or less.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct placement of the CS-LV pacing lead without sheaths can be accomplished successfully in a majority of implants and in < or =20 minutes in a third, without inferior pacing parameters. This may provide for shorter or less technically difficult or expensive procedures with low risk.
Cardiac Pacing, Electrophysiology, and Arrhythmia Section, Caritas Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02135-2997, USA.
Peter
P
Hoffmeister
G Muqtada
GM
Chaudhry
Michael V
MV
Orlov
Gunjan
G
Shukla
Charles I
CI
Haffajee
D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome