Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy has been increasingly used for patients with heart failure. However, unstable and dislocated coronary sinus leads reduce the effectiveness of this important intervention.
Aim: To examine the long-term effects of coronary sinus side branch stenting on sensing and pacing parameters of the left ventricular leads.
Methods: A total of eight patients (six males; two females; mean age, 56.6 ± 14.4 years) whose coronary sinus lead dislocated during the procedure were included in the study. Targeted coronary sinus side branch stenting was performed to stabilize the leads. Sensing and pacing parameters including lead impedance, capture threshold, and R-wave amplitude were measured at implantation, first month, sixth month, and every 6-month period.
Results: Mean follow-up period was 30.4 ± 7.4 months. At the time of implantation, lead impedance, capture threshold, and R-wave amplitude were 656 ± 162 Ω, 1.1 ± 0.5 V, and 13.0 ± 6.8 mV, respectively. No statistically significant mean lead impedance, capture threshold, and R-wave amplitude differences were observed between at the time of implantation and at the time of last follow-up (697 ± 164 Ω, 1.1 ± 0.5 V, 12.8 ± 6.9 mV, respectively).
Conclusion: In this long-term study, coronary sinus side branch stenting for the stabilization of dislocated leads seems to be effective.
©2010, The Authors. Journal compilation ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.