Use of subclavian vein for permanent cardiac pacing.

The subclavian vein has been used to implant permanent pacing catheters in 40 patients with symptomatic heart block. Though the cephalic and external jugular veins are usually preferred for this purpose in Britain, the use of these veins has certain disadvantages. In this study subclavian venepuncture by the infraclavicular approach was performed without diffculty and found to be a safe procedure. Three months after implantation, 7.5 per cent of patients had developed catheter tip dislocation and 87.5 per cent of patients were entirely free of complications.