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We report our preliminary experience with the use of preformed "peel-away" guiding sheaths and "side-wire" pacing leads for permanent biventricular pacemaker insertion in 13 patients with heart failure. Three of these patients were undergoing an upgrade of a preexistent VVIR pacing system after prior His ablation for medically refractory atrial fibrillation. Six of the patients had undergone attempted biventricular pacemaker insertion, but required left ventricular lead repositioning after total implantation failure or late displacement of the lead. The remaining patients were undergoing new system implantation. Target vessel cannulation was achieved in all patients. However, in one patient, diaphragmatic pacing throughout the target vessel length prevented successful implantation. All other implants were ultimately successful (92% success rate). We conclude that device implantation using a preformed sheath and side-wire pacing lead is feasible and may offer significant benefits over implantation with currently available technology.
Walker et al. (Thu,) studied this question.