title: Electrocardiographic patterns during: pacing the great cardiac and middle cardiac veins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns during pacing from the great cardiac vein (GCV) and the middle cardiac vein (MCV) are not well known.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recorded 12-lead ECGs during GCV and MCV pacing in 26 patients undergoing implantation of a cardiac resynchronization device. The left ventricular (LV) lead was passed down the GCV (n = 19) or MCV (n = 7) prior to moving it to a lateral or posterolateral vein for permanent implantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pacing within the GCV resulted in a left bundle branch block (LBBB) morphology with no or minimal R-wave in V(1) in 14 patients and a right bundle branch block (RBBB) pattern (R > S in lead V(1)) in four patients. In one patient, lead V1 during GCV pacing was isoelectric (R = S). A more distal pacing site in the GCV yielded a LBBB pattern in all the patients. All leads placed in the MCV resulted in a LBBB configuration. An ECG pattern with a RBBB pattern was invariably recorded during LV pacing in 125 consecutive outpatients with biventricular pacemakers and LV leads in the posterolatral and lateral coronary veins. Knowledge of the ECG patterns from various pacing sites in the coronary venous system may be helpful for troubleshooting all types of pacing systems, especially those where the coronary venous pacing site is unintentional.
authors.affiliation: Genesis Heart Institute, 1236 East Rusholme, Davenport, IA 52803, USA.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giudici
authors.forename: Darryn W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Tigrett
authors.forename: Jacqueline I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Terri D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: S Serge
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Barold
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014680:Veins