AIMS: We evaluate the incidence of epicardial lead failure and try to identify risk factors in patients with congenital heart disease. METHODS: All patients with a congenital heart defect and an epicardial pacing system, implanted within a timeframe of 25 years, were included in this study. Patients' medical records and lead data were reviewed. Lead failure was defined as the primary endpoint. RESULTS: In total 198 active epicardial leads (atrial 40, ventricular 158) were implanted in 93 patients (median age at implantation 4.4 years (range 0-58.6)). During a total follow-up of 1235 lead-years, 29 lead failures (14.6%, 4 atrial, 25 ventricular) were documented in 22 patients (23.7%). Lead failure occurred at a median time period of 4.8 years (range 1.2-24.1) after implantation. Five-year freedom of lead failure was 88%. The only independent predictor for lead failure was the age at implantation (HR 0.44; 95%CI 0.20-0.97, p = 0.04), other characteristics failed to predict lead failure. Sudden cardiac death occurred in four patients (4.3%), in one a lead failure was documented. CONCLUSION: A high incidence of epicardial lead failures is found in patients with congenital heart disease. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict this potentially life-threatening complication.
AIMS: We evaluate the incidence of epicardial lead failure and try to identify risk factors in patients with congenital heart disease. METHODS: All patients with a congenital heart defect and an epicardial pacing system, implanted within a timeframe of 25 years, were included in this study. Patients' medical records and lead data were reviewed. Lead failure was defined as the primary endpoint. RESULTS: In total 198 active epicardial leads (atrial 40, ventricular 158) were implanted in 93 patients (median age at implantation 4.4 years (range 0-58.6)). During a total follow-up of 1235 lead-years, 29 lead failures (14.6%, 4 atrial, 25 ventricular) were documented in 22 patients (23.7%). Lead failure occurred at a median time period of 4.8 years (range 1.2-24.1) after implantation. Five-year freedom of lead failure was 88%. The only independent predictor for lead failure was the age at implantation (HR 0.44; 95%CI 0.20-0.97, p = 0.04), other characteristics failed to predict lead failure. Sudden cardiac death occurred in four patients (4.3%), in one a lead failure was documented. CONCLUSION: A high incidence of epicardial lead failures is found in patients with congenital heart disease. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict this potentially life-threatening complication.
Authors: J S Sachweh; J F Vazquez-Jimenez; F A Schöndube; S H Daebritz; H Dörge; E G Mühler; B J Messmer Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Date: 2000-04 Impact factor: 4.191
Authors: Elizabeth B Fortescue; Charles I Berul; Frank Cecchin; Edward P Walsh; John K Triedman; Mark E Alexander Journal: J Interv Card Electrophysiol Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 1.900
Authors: G C Beaufort-Krol; H Mulder; D Nagelkerke; T W Waterbolk; M T Bink-Boelkens Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 1999-03 Impact factor: 5.209
Authors: F Udink ten Cate; J Breur; N Boramanand; J Crosson; A Friedman; J Brenner; E Meijboom; N Sreeram Journal: Heart Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 5.994
Authors: Christian Paech; Martin Kostelka; Ingo Dähnert; Patrick Flosdorff; Frank Thomas Riede; Roman Antonin Gebauer Journal: J Cardiothorac Surg Date: 2014-05-12 Impact factor: 1.637