A 12-Year Experience of Bipolar Steroid-Eluting Epicardial Pacing Leads in Children

Bipolar steroid-eluting epicardial leads demonstrate excellent sensing characteristics and persistent low median pacing thresholds below 1.2 V at 0.5 ms in children during up to 12 years follow-up. Considering growing and active patients with most having congenital heart disease, the lead survival of 85% to 94% at 5 years is favorable. Subanalysis shows superior sensing for left ventricular leads. Bipolar steroid-eluting leads provide an alternative approach for permanent pacing and may also be considered for left atrial and ventricular pacing, resynchronization, or defibrillator therapy.