OBJECTIVES: We assessed our pacemaker strategy, use of antitachycardia therapies, generator longevity, and need for programming changes in patients having Fontan conversion with arrhythmia surgery. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2008, of 121 consecutive patients having Fontan conversion and arrhythmia surgeries, 120 patients underwent pacemaker implantation at the time of Fontan conversion (mean age 22.9 +/- 8.1 years). Prior pacemakers were in place in 32/120 (26.7%) patients. Between 1994 and 1998, single-chamber atrial antitachycardia pacemakers were implanted (n = 12); atrial rate-responsive pacemakers (n = 31) were implanted between 1998 and 2002. Dual-chamber rate-responsive pacemakers (n = 16) were used between 2002 and 2003, and subsequently dual-chamber antitachycardia pacemakers (n = 61) have become the pacemaker of choice. Leads have evolved from transatrial endocardial leads to epicardial unipolar and subsequently bipolar leads. RESULTS: Among 87 patients with adequate follow-up, all are currently atrially paced at a minimum lower rate > or =70 beats per minute. Single-chamber atrial pacemakers were implanted in 43 (antitachycardia in 12), and dual-chamber pacemakers in 77 (antitachycardia in 61); multisite ventricular leads were placed in 7 patients. Far-field R-wave sensing in 78.6% of unipolar atrial leads led to use of epicardial bipolar leads. Late atrioventricular block (24%) led to routine implantation of dual-chamber pacemakers. Antitachycardia pacing was utilized in 7%. One patient required acute lead revision and 4 required late upgrade to dual-chamber pacemakers. There was no pacemaker-related infection. Twenty patients required generator change, and the mean device longevity was 7.53 years. CONCLUSIONS: Customized pacemaker therapy can optimize management of patients following Fontan conversion. Device longevity is excellent. Based on our experience with 120 Fontan conversions, we recommend placement of a dual-chamber antitachycardia pacemaker with bipolar steroid-eluting epicardial leads in all patients at the time of the conversion.
OBJECTIVES: We assessed our pacemaker strategy, use of antitachycardia therapies, generator longevity, and need for programming changes in patients having Fontan conversion with arrhythmia surgery. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2008, of 121 consecutive patients having Fontan conversion and arrhythmia surgeries, 120 patients underwent pacemaker implantation at the time of Fontan conversion (mean age 22.9 +/- 8.1 years). Prior pacemakers were in place in 32/120 (26.7%) patients. Between 1994 and 1998, single-chamber atrial antitachycardia pacemakers were implanted (n = 12); atrial rate-responsive pacemakers (n = 31) were implanted between 1998 and 2002. Dual-chamber rate-responsive pacemakers (n = 16) were used between 2002 and 2003, and subsequently dual-chamber antitachycardia pacemakers (n = 61) have become the pacemaker of choice. Leads have evolved from transatrial endocardial leads to epicardial unipolar and subsequently bipolar leads. RESULTS: Among 87 patients with adequate follow-up, all are currently atrially paced at a minimum lower rate > or =70 beats per minute. Single-chamber atrial pacemakers were implanted in 43 (antitachycardia in 12), and dual-chamber pacemakers in 77 (antitachycardia in 61); multisite ventricular leads were placed in 7 patients. Far-field R-wave sensing in 78.6% of unipolar atrial leads led to use of epicardial bipolar leads. Late atrioventricular block (24%) led to routine implantation of dual-chamber pacemakers. Antitachycardia pacing was utilized in 7%. One patient required acute lead revision and 4 required late upgrade to dual-chamber pacemakers. There was no pacemaker-related infection. Twenty patients required generator change, and the mean device longevity was 7.53 years. CONCLUSIONS: Customized pacemaker therapy can optimize management of patients following Fontan conversion. Device longevity is excellent. Based on our experience with 120 Fontan conversions, we recommend placement of a dual-chamber antitachycardia pacemaker with bipolar steroid-eluting epicardial leads in all patients at the time of the conversion.
Authors: Jeffrey A Feinstein; D Woodrow Benson; Anne M Dubin; Meryl S Cohen; Dawn M Maxey; William T Mahle; Elfriede Pahl; Juan Villafañe; Ami B Bhatt; Lynn F Peng; Beth Ann Johnson; Alison L Marsden; Curt J Daniels; Nancy A Rudd; Christopher A Caldarone; Kathleen A Mussatto; David L Morales; D Dunbar Ivy; J William Gaynor; James S Tweddell; Barbara J Deal; Anke K Furck; Geoffrey L Rosenthal; Richard G Ohye; Nancy S Ghanayem; John P Cheatham; Wayne Tworetzky; Gerard R Martin Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2012-01-03 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: Peter A Zartner; Nathalie Mini; Diana Momcilovic; Martin B Schneider; Sven Dittrich Journal: Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 2021-12-10 Impact factor: 1.827
Authors: Maully J Shah; Michael J Silka; Jennifer N Avari Silva; Seshadri Balaji; Cheyenne M Beach; Monica N Benjamin; Charles I Berul; Bryan Cannon; Frank Cecchin; Mitchell I Cohen; Aarti S Dalal; Brynn E Dechert; Anne Foster; Roman Gebauer; M Cecilia Gonzalez Corcia; Prince J Kannankeril; Peter P Karpawich; Jeffery J Kim; Mani Ram Krishna; Peter Kubuš; Martin J LaPage; Douglas Y Mah; Lindsey Malloy-Walton; Aya Miyazaki; Kara S Motonaga; Mary C Niu; Melissa Olen; Thomas Paul; Eric Rosenthal; Elizabeth V Saarel; Massimo Stefano Silvetti; Elizabeth A Stephenson; Reina B Tan; John Triedman; Nicholas H Von Bergen; Philip L Wackel Journal: Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J Date: 2021-07-29