Transiliac vein approach to a rate responsive permanent pacemaker implantation.

A 60-year-old patient was admitted for elective replacement of a depleted pulse generator. The pacemaker was implanted 5 years before because of sick sinus syndrome and it was connected to an epicardial lead due to total occlusion of the superior vena cava. The pacing threshold of the epicardial electrode was unacceptably high, so an endocardial lead was inserted through the iliac vein. The lead was connected to a VVIR pacemaker, which was located in the abdomen just lateral to the umbilicus. During a 1-year follow-up period, the patient felt well and pacemaker performance was satisfactory.