Chronic Stability of Bipolar Epicardial Plunge Electrodes in Dogs

We constructed and surgically implanted 114 chronic bipolar epicardial plunge electrodes for programmed left ventricular stimulation in closed chest dogs; 88 electrodes could be analyzed in animals surviving infarct surgery. Electrode plunges were constructed of silver wire, with conduction strands...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of investigative surgery Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 153 - 159
Main Authors: Brautigam, Robert T., Porter, R. Stephen, Frasch, Fred, Kutalek, Steven P.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Informa UK Ltd 1991
Taylor & Francis
Subjects:
Animals
bipolar epicardial electrodes
bipolar sensing and pacing electrodes
Dogs
Electrocardiography
Electrodes
Electrodes, Implanted
Electrophysiology - instrumentation
Equipment Design
Heart - physiology
Myocardial Infarction - surgery
Pacemaker, Artificial
Postoperative Care - methods
Time Factors
ventricular electrodes
ISSN:0894-1939, 1521-0553
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We constructed and surgically implanted 114 chronic bipolar epicardial plunge electrodes for programmed left ventricular stimulation in closed chest dogs; 88 electrodes could be analyzed in animals surviving infarct surgery. Electrode plunges were constructed of silver wire, with conduction strands of silverplated copper wire, in medical grade silicone tubing. Electrodes were implanted epicardially through left thoracotomy and secured with prolene. Wires exited the fifth intercostal space and were tunneled subcutaneously and secured at the dorsal aspect of the neck. Baseline thresholds (mA) were recorded at a paced cycle length of 300 ms and pulse duration of 1 ms. At least 5 days after implantation, under light Nembutal sedation, thresholds were reassessed before programmed stimulation. Each lead was tested repeatedly over 5-177 (mean 28) days. The number of leads decreased with time due to animal attrition from ventricular arrhythmias. Mean pacing threshold at implantation was 0.25 mA. Mean and median threshold values reached plateau after 1 week and showed little change thereafter for the duration of the study. More than 50% of the leads maintained thresholds less than 1.5 mA through the entire study. In animals that survived, 86% of the electrodes remained useful for the duration of the protocol. These data support the use of this electrode system as effective and reliable for chronic electrophysiologic studies in dogs
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0894-1939
1521-0553
DOI:10.3109/08941939109140775