Low-energy epicardial pacing in children: the benefit of autocapture

Permanent cardiac pacing in children results commonly in augmented energy consumption because of the high pacing rates and the ample stimulation safety margin applied in children. Cardiovascular anatomy and limited venous access sometimes preclude the otherwise preferred endocardial approach. In this multicenter patient series, we studied the feasibility, safety, and energy saving obtained by a combination of steroid-eluting epicardial leads with autocapture devices capable of ongoing adjustment of the stimulation output to the prevailing threshold.

Autocapture devices (Pacesetter Microny SR+/- and Regency SR+/-; Pacesetter, Solna, Sweden) and steroid-eluting epicardial pacing leads (Medtronic CapSure Epi 10366; Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, MN) were implanted in 14 children. Thresholds, telemetry data, evoked response, and polarization signals were obtained at discharge and follow-up, and battery service life was calculated.

During a median follow-up of 6.5 months, autocapture pacing was applied in 12 of 14 children. The automatically adjusted pulse amplitude of autocapture devices demonstrated low-energy pacing with no significant changes between discharge and 6 months follow-up (1.1 +/- 0.3 versus 0.9 +/- 0.3 V). Autocapture-programmed pacemakers had calculated life spans of 7.8 +/- 1.4 years (Microny) and 21.0 +/- 1.6 years (Regency). No adverse effects were noted.

Autocapture-controlled pacing with bipolar epicardial pacing leads is feasible and safe in children. Autocapture programming results in substantial energy savings and extends battery life markedly.