Balloon‐Facilitated Delivery of a Left Ventricular Pacing Lead |
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Authors: | CLAUDE S. ELAYI M.D. MATTHEW G. WHITBECK M.D. GUSTAVO MORALES M.D. JOHN C. GURLEY M.D. |
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Affiliation: | Gill Heart Institute and the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kentucky, , Lexington, Kentucky |
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Abstract: | While modern implant tools have contributed greatly to the success of cardiac resynchronization therapy, technical challenges remain. A common problem is the inability to advance left ventricular pacing leads into branch veins that are tortuous or arise at steep angles. In these cases, advancement of the lead causes it to buckle and prolapse into the coronary sinus or great cardiac vein. Lead prolapsed can be avoided by employing a balloon to temporarily obstruct the coronary sinus or great cardiac vein just upstream from the branch vein. The balloon redirects the force of advancement laterally into the branch vein, facilitating delivery. (PACE 2013; 36:e31–e34) |
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Keywords: | cardiac resynchronization therapy biventricular pacing pacing leads left ventricular pacing left ventricular lead cardiac veins coronary sinus |
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