Effectiveness of epicardial atrial pacing using a bipolar steroid-eluting endocardial lead with active fixation in an experimental model.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of bipolar epicardial atrial pacing using an active fixation bipolar endocardial lead implanted on the atrial surface in an experimental model.

Methods: A total of ten Large White adult pigs underwent pacemaker implantation under general anesthesia. Atrial pacing and sensing parameters were obtained at the procedure, immediate postoperative period and on the 7th and the 30th postoperative in unipolar and bipolar configurations.