title: Long-term temporary pacing with an active fixation lead.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ensuring a haemodynamically effective cardiac rhythm is a challenge in patients waiting for pacemaker reimplantation after transcutaneous lead extraction due to an infection of the implanted system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors report a retrospective analysis of temporary pacing with an active fixation lead (AFTP) connected to an externalised pacemaker in patients after transvenous lead extraction (TLE) due to an infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  AFTP was used in 34 patients (12 women) aged from 38 to 88 years (mean 67.5 years). This represented 24.5% of the population of patients undergoing TLE due to infective indications. In 32 cases, the indication for temporary pacing was atrioventricular block, and in 2 patients sick sinus syndrome. The lead was implanted via the internal jugular vein puncture into the right ventricle in 33 cases and into the right atrium in 1 case. Leads were secured to the skin and attached to externalized pacemakers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AFTP was used for 4 to 26 days (average 14.5 days). Re-implantation was performed in 29 patients (85.3% of the study group). There was no early infection recurrence. Three patients died during AFTP (8.8% of the study group), including two due to septic shock, and a cardiac arrest due to pulseless electrical activity in another patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Temporary pacing with an active fixation lead is an effective and safe method to ensure a hemodynamically stable heart rhythm for a period ranging from a few to several days after the surgery in patients after transcutaneous lead extraction due to infective indications.
authors.affiliation: II Klinika Choroby Wieńcowej Instytut Kardiologii Warszawa. maciag_o@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maciąg
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Syska
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oręziak
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Przybylski
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Broy
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kołsut
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zając
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilińska
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sterliński
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Szwed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000628:therapy*; D053821:Cardiovascular Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D020878:Device Removal; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: implanted device infection; temporary pacing; transcutaneous lead extraction