What is the incidence of permanent pacing and do endocardial leads have fewer complications than epicardial leads in patients with tricuspid valve replacements?
Patients undergoing tricuspid valve replacement have a high rate (22%) of requiring permanent pacing, with endocardial leads showing fewer complications than epicardial leads.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence and complications of permanent pacing in patients who undergo tricuspid valve replacement. DESIGN: A retrospective study of records of patients who had a tricuspid valve replacement between 1978 and 1993 at the Middlesex hospital. RESULTS: 45 patients with tricuspid valve replacements were followed up for a total of 104 patient years. Ten patients (22%) required permanent pacing, five with epicardial leads and five with endocardial. Endocardial leads had significantly lower initial implantation thresholds and were associated with fewer complications. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing tricuspid valve replacement frequently require permanent pacing. Endocardial or epicardial lead insertion should be considered at the time of tricuspid valve replacement.
Cooper et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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