Kriebel T, Ruschewski W, Paul T
Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
Z Kardiol. 2005 Jun;94(6):415-8. doi: 10.1007/s00392-005-0236-z.
In infants and small children, ICD implantation is a challenge due to technical limitations and a significant number of complications. This report describes ICD implantation in a 6-month-old infant (body weight 5.5 kg). A completely extracardiac defibrillation system was implanted using a transvenous lead subcutaneously in the back below the left scapula as the defibrillation electrode and an active-can device in the right upper abdomen. Defibrillation threshold of implantation was < or =10 J. During the follow-up of 3 months, 8 adequate ICD discharges were noted. The technique described seems feasible to facilitate ICD implantation in small infants.