Journal of Arrhythmia (Jan 2006)

Long-Term Follow-Up of Endocardial Pacing Leads Implanted with Extrathoracic Subclavian Venous Approach

  • Masahiro Ohnuki, MD,
  • Kazuhiko Miyataka, MD,
  • Takehiko Nakamura, MD,
  • Yoshinobu Ohnishi, MD,
  • Yoshizumi Kohnoike, MD,
  • Masayuki Tsujimoto, MD,
  • Reirou Shirayama, MD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1880-4276(06)80025-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 2
pp. 110 – 114

Abstract

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The extrathoracic subclavian venous approach is a new approach with the aim to exclude the disadvantages of the conventional subclavian venous approach that carries a risk of pneumothorax and may result in lead damage. We investigated long-term survival of the leads implanted by this new approach between May 1995 and June 2005. A total of 482 leads implanted in 309 patients were analyzed. In cases of patient death, meeting criteria for lead failure or difficulty of continuing follow-up for other reasons, the follow-up was terminated at that time. Therefore, the follow-up was complete for 358 leads (74.3%) and the mean followup time was 55.0 ± 32.1 months (range 1–122 months). The overall lead survival rate was 100% at 5 years and 98.3% at 7 years. This finding suggested that this approach might reduce the incidence of lead failure.

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