ABSTRACT
AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a new VDD pacing system incorporating a high impedance, single-pass VDD lead. The new lead is a bipolar, steroid-eluting, high impedance lead with a full-ring atrial dipole. METHODS AND RESULTS: The system was implanted in 46 patients with high degree atrioventricular (AV) block. Patients were followed at pre-discharge, 6 weeks, and 3 months. The mean measured P-wave amplitude was stable, with values between 1.18 and 1.43 mV. Atrial sensing was reliable during short-term evaluation at rest and in the sitting position, with AV-synchronous stimulation between 98.79 +/- 6.90% and 99.73 +/- 1.47%. Holter recordings after 6 weeks demonstrated AV-synchronous stimulation in 99.57 1.03% of all P-waves. Lead impedance was stable during follow-up, with mean values between 1000 and 1167 Q. Mean ventricular pacing thresholds (at 0.5 ms) were 0.47 V at implant, 0.49 V at pre-discharge, 0.74 V at 6 weeks, and 0.72 V at 3 months. R-wave amplitude remained stable between 14.9 and 16.7 mV during follow-up. CONCLUSION: This new single-pass VDD lead system provided reliable atrial sensing and stable high impedance stimulation during a 3-month follow-up period.