Preservation of ventricular capture by anodal stimulation after dislodgment of an epicardial electrode.

A 58-year-old man had a bipolar epicardial left ventricular (LV) implanted for cardiac resynchronization therapy after a failed transvenous approach. The system was programmed in an LV tip-right ventricular coil configuration, but during follow-up loss of LV capture with recurrence of symptoms occurred. Changing to an LV tip-LV ring configuration restored LV pacing through anodal capture. Loss of cathodal capture was caused by dislodgment of the cathodal electrode due to a broken fixation suture. Anodal capture was used to reinstall resynchronization therapy, which resulted in clinical improvement. There were no adverse effects from anodal stimulation in a follow-up period of 6 months.