Initial Experience with a Sutureless, Screw-in Electrode for Cardiac Pacing

Abstract

This report is based on our initial experience with a new sutureless, corkscrew electrode for cardiac pacing. The electrode may be inserted quickly and securely under direct vision through a small anterior mediastinal or transxiphoid incision. This technique, which was employed in 26 patients between July, 1971, and December, 1972, was developed in an attempt to gain the advantages of both the pervenous and epicardial approaches, i.e., secure placement of the electrode in the myocardium with a minor, well-tolerated procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia. Results to date are very promising and indicate that the technique may very well become the method of choice in the future.