title: Failure rate and conductor externalization in the Biotronik Linox/Sorin Vigila implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead.
abstract: We observed a case of conductor externalization in a Biotronik Linox lead.
  
  
  
  The purpose of this study was to investigate lead performance of the Linox lead and the identical Sorin Vigila lead and prevalence of conductor externalization.
  
  
  
  We compared lead performance of all Linox and Vigila leads implanted at our center (BL group; n = 93) with that of all Boston Scientific Endotak Reliance leads (ER group; n = 190) and Medtronic Sprint Quattro leads (SQ group; n = 202) implanted during the same period. We screened all patients in the BL group for conductor externalization.
  
  
  
  We identified 8 cases of lead failures in the BL group (index case of conductor externalization, 6 cases of nonphysiological high-rate sensing, and 1 case of high-voltage conductor fracture). Prospective fluoroscopic screening of 98% of all active BL group cases revealed 1 additional case of conductor externalization. The median follow-up was 41, 27, and 29 months for the BL group, ER group, and SQ group, respectively; lead survival was 94.9%, 99.2%, and 100% at 3 years and 88%, 97.5%, and 100% at 5 years (P = .038 for BL group vs ER group and P = .007 for BL group vs SQ group using the log-rank test). Younger age at implant was an independent predictor of lead failure in the BL group (adjusted hazard ratio 0.85; 95% confidence interval 0.77-0.94; P = .001).
  
  
  
  At our center, survival of the Linox lead is 88% at 5 years and significantly worse than that of other leads. Conductor externalization is present in a minority of failed Linox leads. Younger age at implant is an independent predictor of Linox lead failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Noti
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klossner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Servatius
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Argelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medeiros-Domingo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Vân
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nam Tran
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haeberlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Juerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuhrer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hildegard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: laurent.roten@insel.ch.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Conductor externalization; Defibrillator lead; Endotak Reliance; Lead failure; Linox; Sprint Quattro