[Subclavian vein puncture as a primary approach for pacemaker lead implantation]

In the beginning of transvenous pacemaker therapy, the external or alternatively internal jugular vein was commonly used for lead implantation. Due to frequent long-term complications both approaches are nowadays obsolete. In most pacemaker centers implantation via the cephalic vein has become standard. As an alternative, in 1975 Sterz et al. introduced puncture of the subclavian vein in the Seldinger technique as an approach for lead implantation. At this time, the commonly used introducers of pacemaker leads had to be cut for removal. No earlier than 1980 "peel away" introducers were commercially available. Since then, we consequently use this technique for implantation of single or dual chamber pacemaker devices. In the course of the last seven years merely 1.5-2% of implantations were performed via the cephalic vein; no jugular vein approach was performed. Due to a routinely performed subclavian vein puncture, we were able to optimize the procedure, proven by an enormous reduction in implantation time (local anesthesia - skin closure), x-ray time and complication rate. In the year 2000 we performed 52 implantations of a single chamber device with an average fluoroscopy time of 1.5 (0.3-9.3) minutes, radiation dose of 4.5 (0.1-47) Gycm(2) and implantation time of 17.6 (8-40) minutes and 144 implantations of a dual chamber device with an average fluoroscopy time of 2.86 (0.7-6.6) minutes, radiation dose of 8.31 (0.7-28) Gycm(2) and implantation time of 21.25 (10-45) minutes. Complications were rare, clinically irrelevant arterial punctures. Neither nerval damage nor pneumothoraces with the necessity for chest tube placement were seen in the above mentioned time frame. No early or late thrombosis of the subclavian vein was encountered.    The primary subclavian vein approach led to an enormous reduction in overall procedure time without significant morbidity.