What can happen during coronary sinus lead implantation: dislocation, perforation and other catastrophes

Abstract

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) using coronary sinus (CS) leads is an established method for the therapy of congestive heart failure (CHF) in the case of asynchronous ventricular contractions. Successful therapy depends on the placement of left ventricular leads usually via the coronary sinus (CS), a technically more challenging procedure than regular pacemaker implantations. Without specific precautions CRT implantation can be the gateway to a time consuming nightmare. Therefore CS lead implantation methods, with a focus on complications, were reviewed according to the literature and own experience with approximately 500 procedures from 1999-2007.