Permanent pacing in infants and children: A single center experience in implantation and follow up

Abstract

Background: Permanent pacing in pediatric population has been growing in Egypt. The aim of this study is to present one center experience in pediatric pacing including implantation procedures and long-term outcome. Methods and results: During the period from 1996 to 2010, we collected the data of 32 children (18 males) with a mean age of 5.7 ± 3.8 years that underwent permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. Their mean weight was 21.6 ± 13.8 kg, and median body surface area (BSA) was 0.7 m2. Twenty-five patients (78.1%) had congenital heart disease (CHD). Pacing was done via subclavian vein puncture while epicardial pacing was done via standard surgical techniques. All patients were followed up for 0.25–14 years (median: 2.5 years). Suboptimal pacing parameters were defined by one or more of the following: R/P wave malsensing, pacing threshold >2 V, or battery longevity of 0.05). Conclusion: Permanent pacing in pediatric age group is relatively safe. However, there is substantial higher incidence of suboptimal pacing parameters and pacing system failures especially in younger and smaller children. Epicardial steroid eluting leads are comparable to endocardial steroid eluting leads in performance.

Keywords

• Permanent pacing
• Pediatric age
• Endocardial pacing
• Epicardial pacing
• Pacing complications