A simple method for preoperative assessment of the best fitting electrode length in single lead VDD pacing.

For single lead VDD pacing, electrodes with various distances between the lead tip and the floating atrial dipole (AV distance) are available. Using different AV distances allows positioning of the atrial dipole in the mid- to high right atrium, regardless of the size of the right heart. In this position, reliable atrial sensing and rejection of ventricular far-field potentials can be expected. A simple test for the preoperative assessment of the best fitting AV distance in the individual patient was tested. We studied 24 consecutive patients prior to implantation of a VDD pacemaker. With the patient in supine position, a test electrode with an AV distance of 13 cm was taped onto the thorax…