Transvenous pacing leads implanted in epicardial position: A recipe for future epicardial pacing electrode?Central MessagePerspective

Objective: Finding an optimum epicardial pacing site in children needing lead replacement can be challenging. We report the midterm outcome of using transvenous SelectSecure leads in the epicardial position. Methods: Between 2018 and 2020, 6 patients (5 children and 1 adult) received 8 SelectSecure...

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Main Authors: Seraina Brütsch, MD, Christian Balmer, MD, Hitendu Dave, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:JTCVS Techniques
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666250725002329
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author Seraina Brütsch, MD
Christian Balmer, MD
Hitendu Dave, MD
author_facet Seraina Brütsch, MD
Christian Balmer, MD
Hitendu Dave, MD
author_sort Seraina Brütsch, MD
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Finding an optimum epicardial pacing site in children needing lead replacement can be challenging. We report the midterm outcome of using transvenous SelectSecure leads in the epicardial position. Methods: Between 2018 and 2020, 6 patients (5 children and 1 adult) received 8 SelectSecure 3830 leads (“off-label”) in the epicardial position: both the left atrium and left ventricle in 2 patients, only the left ventricle in 3 patients, and the right ventricle in 1 patient. The median age at lead implantation was 14 (4-35) years. Periodic pacing threshold, sensing, and impedance measurements were analyzed. Results: Lead implantations could be performed in all patients without complications, despite scarring from previous surgeries. The median pacing, sensing, and impedance measurements for 6 ventricular leads were 0.75 V, 6.5 mV, and 576 Ohm, respectively. The same for 2 atrial leads were 1.25 V, 2.5 mV, and 758 Ohm, respectively. During a follow-up period of 23.4 (8-32) months, despite a small increase at 6 months, pacing and sensing parameters remained acceptable. One reoperation occurred after the follow-up period due to lead dysfunction. One young patient with a complex structural heart disease and terminal heart failure on a ventricular assist device died while waiting for a heart transplant. Conclusions: The implantation of transvenous leads in the epicardial position is feasible and provides an alternative for cardiac pacing in patients with multiple previous surgeries and epicardial scarring. This lead design, although appealing, poses challenges for stable epicardial fixation. A larger experience and longer follow-up would decide its exact role in epicardial pacing.
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spelling doaj-art-6f20fd3de57e4eb9be8a1815ce1e0d8e2025-08-20T03:36:44ZengElsevierJTCVS Techniques2666-25072025-08-013214415110.1016/j.xjtc.2025.05.011Transvenous pacing leads implanted in epicardial position: A recipe for future epicardial pacing electrode?Central MessagePerspectiveSeraina Brütsch, MD0Christian Balmer, MD1Hitendu Dave, MD2Division of Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatric Heart Centre & Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital Zürich, Zürich, SwitzerlandDivision of Cardiology, Pediatric Heart Centre & Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital Zürich, Zürich, SwitzerlandDivision of Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatric Heart Centre & Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Address for reprints: Hitendu Dave, MD, Division of Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatric Heart Centre & Children's Research Centre, University Children's Hospital, Lenggstrasse 30, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland.Objective: Finding an optimum epicardial pacing site in children needing lead replacement can be challenging. We report the midterm outcome of using transvenous SelectSecure leads in the epicardial position. Methods: Between 2018 and 2020, 6 patients (5 children and 1 adult) received 8 SelectSecure 3830 leads (“off-label”) in the epicardial position: both the left atrium and left ventricle in 2 patients, only the left ventricle in 3 patients, and the right ventricle in 1 patient. The median age at lead implantation was 14 (4-35) years. Periodic pacing threshold, sensing, and impedance measurements were analyzed. Results: Lead implantations could be performed in all patients without complications, despite scarring from previous surgeries. The median pacing, sensing, and impedance measurements for 6 ventricular leads were 0.75 V, 6.5 mV, and 576 Ohm, respectively. The same for 2 atrial leads were 1.25 V, 2.5 mV, and 758 Ohm, respectively. During a follow-up period of 23.4 (8-32) months, despite a small increase at 6 months, pacing and sensing parameters remained acceptable. One reoperation occurred after the follow-up period due to lead dysfunction. One young patient with a complex structural heart disease and terminal heart failure on a ventricular assist device died while waiting for a heart transplant. Conclusions: The implantation of transvenous leads in the epicardial position is feasible and provides an alternative for cardiac pacing in patients with multiple previous surgeries and epicardial scarring. This lead design, although appealing, poses challenges for stable epicardial fixation. A larger experience and longer follow-up would decide its exact role in epicardial pacing.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666250725002329congenital heart diseaseepicardial pacingpediatricpermanent pacemakertransvenous 3830 selectsecure pacing lead
spellingShingle Seraina Brütsch, MD
Christian Balmer, MD
Hitendu Dave, MD
Transvenous pacing leads implanted in epicardial position: A recipe for future epicardial pacing electrode?Central MessagePerspective
JTCVS Techniques
congenital heart disease
epicardial pacing
pediatric
permanent pacemaker
transvenous 3830 selectsecure pacing lead
title Transvenous pacing leads implanted in epicardial position: A recipe for future epicardial pacing electrode?Central MessagePerspective
title_full Transvenous pacing leads implanted in epicardial position: A recipe for future epicardial pacing electrode?Central MessagePerspective
title_fullStr Transvenous pacing leads implanted in epicardial position: A recipe for future epicardial pacing electrode?Central MessagePerspective
title_full_unstemmed Transvenous pacing leads implanted in epicardial position: A recipe for future epicardial pacing electrode?Central MessagePerspective
title_short Transvenous pacing leads implanted in epicardial position: A recipe for future epicardial pacing electrode?Central MessagePerspective
title_sort transvenous pacing leads implanted in epicardial position a recipe for future epicardial pacing electrode central messageperspective
topic congenital heart disease
epicardial pacing
pediatric
permanent pacemaker
transvenous 3830 selectsecure pacing lead
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666250725002329
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AT hitendudavemd transvenouspacingleadsimplantedinepicardialpositionarecipeforfutureepicardialpacingelectrodecentralmessageperspective