Assessment of endocardial leads for permanent cardiac pacing.

Catheter tip dislocation is the main complication of permanent pacemaker implantation using the subclavian vein. In this study of 50 patients we compared the incidence of complications using two endocardial electrodes specially designed to prevent tip dislocation. One catheter had a helical endocardial electrode and the other had retractable nylon barbs. The helical electrode was superior in every respect and we recommend its use for pacing through the subclavian vein.