Safety and usefulness of the Sweet Tip™ type screw-in lead for pacemakers

In the current cardiac device implantation practice, screw-in leads are important for stability of atrial and ventricular pacing. There are two screw-in leads, the Sweet Tip™ and the retractable screw-in lead; both are widely used. The difference between them is the exposure of the helix during placement. The Sweet Tip lead has an exposed screw covered with mannitol to prevent undesirable entrapment or perforations before fixation. The mannitol melts within several minutes, after which direct fixation is feasible. The Sweet Tip™ has a simple mechanical structure, which facilitates fixation. This review emphasizes the usefulness of the Sweet Tip™ screw-in lead and suggests how to apply it safely.