Single pass VDD pacing in children and adolescents

Use of a single pass lead for VDD pacing in complete heart block is well described in adults, but there are only brief reports of its use in children. We have used standard adult size single pass leads in 13 children and adolescents aged 3.7-17.2 years (mean 10.1 years) and weighing 13.5-76 kg (mean 34.8 kg). Congenital complete heart block was present in 7 patients, surgical complete heart block in 5 patients and 2:1 AV block of unknown cause in 1 patient. In four patients, the VDD system was their first pacing system. In nine of the patients, 1-6 previous systems had been used and simultaneous extraction of ventricular leads and/or atrial leads was performed. Leads of four different types were used: Brilliant IMP15Q, Brilliant + IMR15Q, CapSure 5032, and Unipass 425-13 with 4 different generators: Saphir 600, Saphir II 620, Thera VDD 8948, and Unity 292-07. At implantation, via a subclavian vein puncture, excess lead was advanced into the right atrium to allow both atrial sensing and slack for further growth. Ventricular thresholds ranged from 0.2-0.7 V. The minimal atrial amplitude was 0.7-4 mV and the maximum amplitude was 2.5-8 mV. There were no complications. All patients have maintained adequate atrial signals for reliable pacing with follow up of 3-36 months (mean 17.6 months) during which time some have undergone considerable growth. Reliable atrial synchronous ventricular pacing is possible in growing children with complete heart block using a standard adult single pass lead.