Transarterial permanent pacing of the left ventricle.

Clinical evaluation of a 64-year-old male patient with a permanent pacemaker showed a right bundle branch block in his ECG that led to the suspicion of catheter misplacement. A two-dimensional echocardiogram and bilateral venogram demonstrated that the pacemaker lead was not in the venous system and that its course was from the axillary artery to the left ventricle passing through the aortic valve. Thirty-three days after implant, replacement of the pacemaker lead through the venous system to stimulate the right ventricular endocardium was performed. At 7 month follow-up the patient has had no complication from his previous arterial pacemaker implantation.