Right ventricular lead implantation facilitated by a guiding sheath in a patient with severe chamber dilatation with tricuspid regurgitation

Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J. 2011 Sep;11(5):156-8. Epub 2011 Oct 2.

Abstract

Implantation of pacemakers can be challenging in the context of dilated cardiac chambers and valvular regurgitation. We report a difficult case of single chamber pacemaker implantation in a patient with restrictrive cardiomyopathy resulting in grossly enlarged atria and severe tricuspid regurgitation. In this situation, use of a slittable guiding sheath, more typically used for coronary sinus lead implantation, greatly facilitated rapid and stable deployment of the right ventricular lead.

Keywords: Restrictive cardiomyopathy; giant atria; guiding sheaths; pacemaker.