Coronary vein leads for cardiac pacing in patients with tricuspid valve replacement.

Background: Because after tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) the transvenous implantation of endocardial leads is contraindicated, myocardial screw-in leads were used to ventricular pacing. Recently available coronary vein (CV) leads are stimulating the left ventricle epicardially and can be implanted transvenously, too.

Results: We implanted these leads in patients (pts) with TVR (n = 7) or after valve repair (n = 1) without complications. In 7 pts we used bended CV leads with a microporous tip and only in one pt a CV lead with a stimulation via metal ring. The stimulation thresholds (ST) were stable in all pts.

Conclusions: The use of CV leads offers a minimal invasive approach for permanent cardiac stimulation after TVR. Low chronic ST are resulting in an energy saving pacemaker mode. CV leads can be used after previous heart surgery as well as for difficult anatomical situations.