Early detection of lead fracture by painless high voltage lead impedance measurement in a transvenous ICD lead system.
We report the case of a 69 year old patient, who underwent transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device change (Medtronic GEM VR 7227 Cx Active Can) because the ICD reached its replacement indicators. Preoperative chest X-ray and intraoperative defibrillation threshold tests and high voltage impedance did not show lead fracture of the five year old lead (Transvene 6936-65). At the second postoperative day the alarm of the newly implanted ICD device was activated because of high impedance in the painless lead impedance measurement (PLI) and the lead was replaced. The explanted lead showed a fracture detectable only by PLI.
Stevens
J
J
Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Hospital Goettingen, Germany.
Buchwald
A B
AB
Krieglstein
H
H
Unterberg
C
C
D000368:Aged; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004566:Electrodes; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male