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Ann Thorac Surg 2005;79:1023-1025
© 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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New technology

Facilitated Minimally Invasive Left Ventricular Epicardial Lead Placement

^a Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heartcenter, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

Accepted for publication January 22, 2004.

^* Address reprint requests to Dr Doll, Heartcenter Leipzig, Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Leipzig, Strümpellstrasse 39, 04289 Leipzig, Germany
dolln{at}medizin.uni-leipzig.de

PURPOSE: Atrial-synchronized biventricular pacing is an effective treatment option in patients with heart failure and interventricular conduction delay. Owing to a failed transvenous implantation in some patients, the left ventricular (LV) lead has to be placed surgically, usually by an anterolateral thoracotomy. We used a novel malleable epicardial lead placement tool (Epicardial Lead Implant Tool, Model 10626; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) that facilitates lead placement on the posterior aspect of the LV through an anterolateral minithoracotomy.

DESCRIPTION: The tool consists of a malleable steel shaft with distal gripping tongs for the epicardial lead. Proximally, a thumbwheel and an actuator button allow fixation and release of the lead on the myocardium.

EVALUATION: We used this tool in 7 patients through an anterolateral minithoracotomy. All patients had a safe, successful, and rather short procedure. No scopes were required.

CONCLUSIONS: Epicardial LV lead placement through an anterolateral minithoracotomy is facilitated by using the Lead Implant Tool. Lead placement is achieved by the malleable shaft design, which enables perpendicular implantation of the lead pad on the posterior LV surface with an anterolateral approach.

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