Endocardial Pacing Through a Prosthetic Tricuspid Valve

We describe a patient in whom permanent endocurdial pacing was accomplished by passage of the electrode through a porcine bioprosthetic tricuspid valve, thereby obviating the need for a second thoroctomy. After 8 years of follow-up, the patient continues to do well with satisfactory pacing and bioprosthetic valve function at the first change of pulse generator.     

Presumptive Tricuspid Valve Malfunction Induced by a Pacemaker Lead: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A 23-year-old woman developed 3 degrees AV block with syncope. Insertion of a permanent pacemaker lead was followed by the onset of a persistent murmur in late systole preceded by single or multiple clicks. The murmur was best heard at the left sternal edge, grade 3-4/6 with two major frequencies (60-250 Hz), increased with inspiration and on assuming the erect posture. It was considered to be tricuspid in origin and related to interference of the tricuspid valve apparatus by the pacemaker lead resulting in tricuspid regurgitation. No tricuspid valve prolapse or flutter was seen on echocardiography. Withdrawal of the pacemaker lead resulted in immediate disappearance of the new auscultatory findings. Review of the literature suggests that the appearance of such a murmur following pacemaker insertion could be associated with later complications in relation to tricuspid valve dysfunction. It is therefore recommended that, under these circumstances, permanent pacemaker leads should be appropriately repositioned.     

Lead Configuration for Defibrillator Implantation in a Patient with Congenital Heart Disease and a Mechanical Prosthetic Tricuspid Valve

LENG, C.T., et al. : Lead Configuration for Defibrillator Implantation in a Patient with Congenital Heart Disease and a Mechanical Prosthetic Tricuspid Valve. The authors devised a nonthoracotomy defibrillation system for a patient with a prosthetic tricuspid valve using existing technology and previously established implantation techniques. Their lead configuration deviates substantially from existing designs in its primary use of a coronary sinus defibrillation coil and a left-sided subcutaneous array to distribute current across the ventricular myocardium.     

Entrapment of a Tined Pacemaker Electrode in the Tricuspid Valve. A Case Report

A tined pacemaker electrode was entrapped in the tricuspid valve apparatus. Nonresponding, sustained ventricular tachycardia, and cardiac arrest necessitated forcible removal of the electrode causing partial avulsion of the tricuspid valve. Hemodynamically insignificant tricuspid regurgitation developed subsequently.     

心脏淀粉样变1例并文献复习

结合文献复习,对1例心脏淀粉样变患者的临床资料做一回顾性分析。     

Modified Implantation of a Transvenous Defibrillator in a Patient After Tricuspid Valve Replacement

SCHREIBER, C., et al. : Modified Implantation of a Transvenous Defibrillator in a Patient after Tricuspid Valve Replacement. A different approach to transvenous implantation in a patient after tricuspid valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis is described. To our knowledge, this is the first report in this setting, using a CPI system with a single shock electrode only.     

Ablation of Atrial Flutter in a Patient with a Tricuspid Valve Replacement after Endocarditis

Myocardial scars from heart surgery are a source of tachycardia, eventually causing late morbidity and sudden death. In general, catheter ablation has been shown to be an effective therapy for various rhythm disorders, but it has been rarely described after atrioventricular valve replacement. We report on a 45-year-old man who developed atrial flutter after implantation of a tricuspid valve bioprosthesis. An electrophysiological investigation revealed typical type-I counterclockwise atrial flutter that was successfully terminated by catheter ablation. A sinus rhythm was restored and remained stable during the course of treatment; the valvular function was not diminished. It is demonstrated that safe mapping and ablation of typical atrial flutter is possible after a tricuspid valve replacement.     

Redundant Pacing: Case Report and Review

A 17-year-old boy with severe sick sinus bradycardia had a doubly redundant pacemaker inserted. With two separate ventricular leads inserted by the epicardial route, the pacemaker is able to compensate for a lead that has developed high threshold by activation of an alternate lead. The two pacing channels of the pulse generator can be programmed independently of one another. In addition, there is a back-up pacing circuit separate from the two primary channels. The pacer can be used with both channels active for continuous automatic redundancy for safety, or with one channel active and the other in reserve.     

Permanent Cardiac Pacing After Open-heart Surgery: Acquired Heart Disease

Retrospective review of 5,942 patients who underwent open-heart surgery for acquired heart disease revealed that 123 patients (2.1%) required permanent cardiac pacing postoperatively; 4.6% of these underwent predominantly valvular surgery and 0.6% had coronary bypass. The most important factors appeared to be: 1) preoperative evidence of a conduction disorder; 2) advanced patient age; 3) dense calcium in the aortic annulus; 4) valvular surgery and, especially, tricuspid valve surgery; and 5) poor myocardial protection. Postoperative permanent pacing had a considerable impact on patient morbidity from maintenance operations; most complications were lead-related problems.     

Cardiac Pacing in Fetal Lambs: Intrauterine Transvenous Cardiac Pacing for Fetal Complete Heart Block

To evaluate the feasibility of intrauterine transvenous cardiac pacing, the right ventricular output was measured during pacing in six fetal lambs. Under maternal anesthesia, the uterus was opened, and, under local anesthesia, the pacing lead (Medtronic Capsure SP4023) was inserted via the fetal left internal jugular vein. Right ventricular output was estimated using an Aloka SSD-730 ultrasound device, and tricuspid valve regurgitation was evaluated with an Aloka SSD-880 using the transuterine approach. The ultrasonic right ventricular cardiac output was measured under three different conditions: (1) with the tip of the pacing lead in the superior vena cava (control); (2) with the tip of the pacing lead in the right ventricle; and (3) with pacing at 200 beats/min. The right ventricular output decreased when the pacing lead was inserted into the right ventricle, as well as during pacing at 200 beats/min ([1] = 107 ± 13.2 ml/kg per min; [2] = 73.8 ± 17. 5 ml/kg per min; and [3] = 78.3 ± 23.6 ml/kg per min), Tricuspid regurgitation did not change under any of the conditions tested. Intrauterine transvenous cardiac pacing was successfully achieved. Insertion of the pacing lead into the right ventricle decreased the ventricular output without increasing tricuspid valve regurgitation.     

Oversensing from Electrode ''Chatter'' in a Bipolar Pacing Lead: A Case Report

An 81-year-old man was treated for high degree AV block and syncope with an AV universal (DDD) pacemaker. Bipolar active fixation atrial and ventricular leads were used. Intermittent oversensing from the ventricular lead was detected on Holter monitoring following implantation. This resulted in inappropriate inhibition of ventricular pacing. Ventricular electrogram showed spurious signals between 5 mV and 15 mV in magnitude coincident with ventricular lead inhibition. Treatment consisted of reprogramming the device to the VVT mode. Six weeks after implantation normal pacemaker function in the DDD mode was demonstrated on Holter monitoring and inappropriate pacer inhibition could not be demonstrated. We postulate that electrode 'chatter' between the cathodal ring electrode and the helix of the ventricular lead resulted in artifactual potentials sufficient to inhibit pacing. We hypothesize that fibrosis and fixation of the ventricular lead tip over a period of weeks eliminated these electromechanical artifacts and resulted in the oversensing problem being self-limited. Physicians should be aware of electrode 'chatter' as a cause of pacemaker oversensing.     

Right-sided Infective Endocarditis with Acquired Tricuspid Valve Stenosis Associated with Transvenous Pacemaker: A Case Report

Five years prior to presentation, a 29-year-old woman received a transvenous pacemaker (DDD) for sick sinus syndrome and nodo-hisian pathology. After pacemaker insertion, she complained of recurrent febrile episodes. Her pacemaker related endocarditis was quite unusual for the infecting organism (a micrococcus) and for an acquired tricuspid valve stenosis. The suspected cause was confirmed at surgery.     

Ultrasonic Assisted Permanent Pacing in a Patient with Severe Pulmonary Tuberculosis

A 67-year-old male patient with previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis presented with syncope due to complete heart block. Collapse of the right lung and deviation of the heart to the right chest had prevented visualization of the cardiac silhouette by fluoroscopy. Successful endocardial permanent pacing using a passive fixation electrode was achieved with the help of ultrasonic visualization of the cardiac chambers.     

Permanent Left Atrial Pacing with a Specifically Designed Coronary Sinus Lead

This article reports the original use of a specifically designed coronary sinus (CS) lead for permanent left atrial (LA) pacing. The device is characterized by its distal end shape featuring a double 45° angulation. which ensures very close contact with the CS upper wall. The device was successfully implanted in 39 out of 40 patients (97.5%). The tip electrode was eventually positioned in the distal CS in 9 patients, in the middle CS in 21 patients, and close to the ostium in the proximal CS in 9 patients. The mean acute pacing threshold voltage was 0.9 ± 0.5 V with a mean impedance of 578 ± 144 Ω as measured in unipolar distal configuration at 0.5 ms pulse width (PW). The mean A wave amplitude was 3.5 ± 2.1 mV. Early lead dislodgment occurred only once (3%) when the tip electrode was placed in the distal or middle CS, but more often (4/9 cases) when it was placed in the proximal CS. After a mean follow-up duration of 14 ± 8.5 months, 35 of the 39 successfully implanted leads (89.7%) were still functional in terms of LA pacing and sensing. The mean chronic pacing threshold voltage was 1.5 ± 0.8 V and the mean A wave amplitude was 2.7 ± 1.6 mV. There were no lead related complications. In conclusion, the device proved to be safe and highly effective for permanent LA pacing, provided the distal tip could be positioned in the distal or middle part of the CS.     

Inadvertent But Asymptomatic Right Atrial Perforation with Epicardial Pacing in a Neonate: A Rare Complication of Temporary Transvenous Cardiac Pacing

We report a case of an asymptomatic right atrial perforation due to temporary cardiac pacing in a neonate.     

Complications of Permanent Transvenous Cardiac Pacing: A 14-Year Review of all Transvenous Pacemakers Inserted at One Community Hospital

Five hundred and eighty-nine consecutive transvenous pacemakers implanted between January 1, 1971 and January 1, 1985 were reviewed. A complication incidence of 17% early in the study period (1971–1977) was caused by electrode displacement and perforation. As of 1975, smaller-sized electrodes with endocardial fixation were used and were associated with a significant decrease in this complication incidence to 2% by 1985. All other complications occurring during the entire study period (1971–1985) occurred at a frequency of 3% (20/589). Infection occurred in 3 of 589 cases; there were no extrusions or erosions. No mortality was attributed to pacemaker insertion. The "twiddler" syndrome seems to be increasing in frequency. Transvenous permanent pacing can be accomplished today with a low complication rate of 5% or less. The majority of these complications are minor and can be corrected easily. Our studies suggest that the reduced complication incidence is mainly related to improved technology.     

Ventricular Thrombosis During Permanent Endocardial Pacing in a Pediatric Patient with Hemorrheological Disorders

Thrombosis in the right atrium or ventricle is a rare complication of permanent endocardial pacing in adults. To the best of our knowledge, this complication has not been previously reported at all in the pediatric age group. We report on a case of a 7-year-old boy who had large left ventricular thrombi that occurred during permanent endocardial electrical stimulation. Subsequent pulmonary emboli complicated congestive heart failure in this patient. As a diagnostic approach, echocardiography and pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy were used. We comment on possible causes of this serious complication and suggest hemorrheological and platelet activation studies in patients with permanent endocardial pacing.     

轻微病变样继发性肾淀粉样变性1例报告并文献复习

目的：探讨轻微病变样继发性肾淀粉样变性临床病理特点。方法：结合病例复习文献。结果：肾病综合征为首发症状的轻微病变样继发性肾淀粉样变性临床上实属罕见，极易漏诊或误诊，确定诊断依赖于肾活检组织病理学检查及特殊染色。结论：对于老年人出现肾病综合征时，即使肾组织病理为轻微病变，也应仔细检查是否存在淀粉样纤维沉积。