Transvenous Pacemaker Leads Do Not Worsen Tricuspid Regurgitation: A Prospective Echocardiographic Study

Limited prospective data are available regarding the influence of pacemaker leads on tricuspid valve function. To examine the true incidence of these complications, 35 patients were prospectively examined by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography before and after implantation of either a permanent pacemaker or an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Of the 35 patients imaged preoperatively, the amount of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was judged as normal or trivial in 15 (43%), mild in 10 (29%), moderate in 8 (23%), and severe in 2 (6%). Following electrode implantation, TR was noted to be normal or trivial in 13 (38%), mild in 15 (48%), moderate in 6 (17%) and severe in 1 (3%). We conclude that implantation of permanent right ventricular electrodes is not usually associated with an acute worsening of tricuspid regurgitation in most patients.