Comparison of Right– and Left–Sided Pectoral Implantation Parameters with the Jewel Active Can Cardiodefibrillator

A total of 1,207 patients received a Medtronic jewel active, can ICD (models 721BC, 7219C), with a Transvene had in 97 centers in Europe and North America. Nineteen implants were from the right pectoral region. Patients with right–sided ICDs did not differ in terms of mean age. % male, left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association Functional Class, antiar–rhythmic drug therapy, indication for the implantable cardioverter defihrillator, and R wave values at implantation, but tended to have slightly higher pacing thresholds (1.2 ± 0.5 V vs 1.0 ± 0.6 V, P = 0.012) and higher defibrillation thresholds (14.7 ± 6.4 J vs 11.5 ± 6 J, P = 0.11) compared with patients with left sided implants. Patients with right–sided implants had a longer implantation time compared with patients with left–sided implants (118 ± 70 minutes vs 91 ± 46 minutes, P = 0.074). In follow–up, 5 patients with right–sided implantation received successful therapy for either ventricular fibrillation, (8 episodes) or ventricular tachycardia (5 episodes). No ineffective therapy from the device was delivered in any patients with right–sided implantation. Right–sided pectoral implants are feasible with the Medtronic Jewel active can ICD.