PERMANENT PACING IN PATIENTS WITH TRICUSPID-VALVE REPLACEMENTS

Objective-To assess the incidence and complications of permanent pacin g in patients who undergo tricuspid valve replacement. Design-A retros pective study of records of patients who had a tricuspid valve replace ment between 1978 and 1993 at the Middlesex hospital. Results-45 patie nts with tricuspid valve replacements were followed up for a total of 104 patient years. Ten patients (22%) required permanent pacing, five with epicardial leads and five with endocardial. Endocardial leads had significantly lower initial implantation thresholds and were associat ed with fewer complications. Conclusion-Patients undergoing tricuspid valve replacement frequently require permanent pacing. Endocardial or epicardial lead insertion should be considered at the time of tricuspi d valve replacement.