E.M. Malitha S. Hettiarachchi, Camelia Arsene, Salah Fares, Adriss Faraj, Erik Saulitis, Salvatory Losito and Mukarram Siddiqui
Introduction: The subclavian venous approach is a widely used method for venous access in device implantation and is associated with pneumothorax as a short term complication and lead fracture as a long term complication. The axillary vein approach is an alternate method for venous access, and this study evaluates the successfulness and immediate complications of fluoroscopy-guided axillary vein puncture compared to other venous approach methods.
Methods: This is a retrospective observational study on all patients who underwent pacemaker, defibrillator implant or lead change over 23 months. The fluoroscopy-guided modified Seldinger technique was used for axillary vein puncture and if failed, venography was performed.
Results: Out of 261 device implants or lead changes, 210 patients underwent fluoroscopy-guided axillary vein puncture. The mean age of the patients was 65.43 ± 15.7 years; 96.1% were African American; 57.6% were males. In 194 (92.3%) patients left or right axillary vein approaches were successful by either fluoroscopy or venography guidance. When anatomical abnormalities were excluded the success rate for axillary vein puncture was 97% and for fluoroscopy-guided axillary vein puncture was 94.5 %. Multiple leads were placed without any resistance and none of the patients had pneumothorax, hemothorax or hematoma as immediate complications.
Conclusion: Based on this first study conducted in a relatively large consecutive United Sates patient population, we report that fluoroscopy-guided axillary vein puncture using the first rib as a landmark, is a safe and effective method for device implantation with single or multiple leads, without patients getting exposed to intravenous contrasts.
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