Displacement of endocardial pacemaker electrodes. A comparison between Elema 588 B and Chardack 5818

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Adams-Stokes seizures necessitate pacemaker implantation for management.
• Pacemaker electrode selection involves considerations of implantation technique, weight, and thickness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of electrode displacement and patient survival between Elema 588 B and Chardack 5818 electrodes in patients with Adams-Stokes seizures.
• To investigate factors influencing electrode displacement, including electrode type and pre-existing heart disease.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study involving 159 patients with Adams-Stokes seizures who underwent permanent pacemaker implantation.
• Comparison of outcomes between patients receiving Elema 588 B electrodes (n=119) and Chardack 5818 electrodes (n=40).
• Analysis of electrode displacement rates and patient survival, considering physician experience and presence of heart disease.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in electrode displacement or survival was observed between the two electrode types.
• Physician experience did not correlate with the frequency of electrode displacement.
• Electrode displacement occurred significantly more often in patients with radiographically demonstrable heart disease.

Conclusions:

• Both Elema 588 B and Chardack 5818 electrodes are associated with similar outcomes regarding displacement and survival in pacemaker implantation for Adams-Stokes seizures.
• Pre-existing heart disease is a significant risk factor for pacemaker electrode displacement.
• Further research may explore strategies to mitigate displacement risk in patients with cardiac comorbidities.