Right ventricular and tricuspid valve function in patients with two ventricular pacemaker leads.

Abstract

Existing data on the effect of retained pacemaker leads on right ventricular (RV) and tricuspid valve function is limited. In this echocardiographic study we investigated the long-term effect of retained ventricular leads on RV and tricuspid valve function in patients with permanent pacemakers. Forty patients, 18 with two (group I) and 22 with one (group II) ventricular lead were assessed echocardiographically at an average of 39 months after the second lead implantation in group I and 80 months after the lead implantation in group II. The sum of the lead body diameter in group I was significantly greater than the body diameter in group II (P < 0.000). There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to chamber diameters and ventricular or valvular functions. The distributions of the different tricuspid regurgitation (TR) grades were similar, with the majority of patients in both groups having mild TR. Retained second pacemaker leads do not have an additional negative effect on right ventricular and tricuspid valve function.