PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Masterson, Martin M.
AU  - Maloney, James D.
AU  - Tuzcu, E. Murat
AU  - Wilkoff, Bruce L.
AU  - Emre, Atila
AU  - Vanerio, Gabriel
AU  - Simmons, Tony W.
AU  - Morant, Victor A.
AU  - Castle, Lon W.
TI  - Atrial pacemaker leads compared
DP  - 1990 Jul 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - 433--436
VI  - 57
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/57/5/433.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/57/5/433.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med1990 Jul 01; 57
AB  - In order to analyze the impact of different polarity and electrode designs on the acute pacing and sensing characteristics of pacemaker leads, 80 patients with complete heart block or sinus node dysfunction undergoing pacemaker implantation received eight different leads from five manufacturers. Once the leads were positioned, volt and current thresholds, P wave, peak-to-peak, and slew rate were assessed prospectively. There was no statistically significant difference between acute pacing thresholds, sensing characteristics, or unipolar and bipolar pacing thresholds. Active fixation leads allow atrial mapping and lead placement in areas generally inaccessible to tined tip leads. This is an advantage, especially for patients with a history of open heart surgery.