Long-term results of endocardial pacing with Autocapture™ threshold tracking pacemakers in children

PubMedID: 16216759Aim: We aimed to evaluate the long-term results of endocardial pacing with Autocapture™ threshold tracking pacemakers in children. Methods and results: Implantation and follow-up data of 20 children with these pacemakers were retrospectively evaluated. The pacemakers were implanted subpectorally in five and subcutaneously in 15 patients. The indication for pacing was high-grade atrioventricular block in 18 cases. The mean age at implantation was 7 ± 4.8 years. Four patients were pacemaker dependant (heart rate < 30 bpm). At implantation, the mean pacing threshold was 0.5 V at 0.5 ms. The mean evoked response (ER) signal was 8.5 ± 3.6 mV, and the polarisation signal (PS) was <1 mV in 15 patients and 1-2 mV in five patients. During the mean follow-up period of 60 months, mean ER signal decreased significantly to 7.7 ± 6.3 mV at 24 months and 6.5 ± 2.5 mV at 60 months (P < 0.05). In four of 15 patients (26.6%), with a predischarge PS value of