AIM To describe our experience with shock testing for the evaluation of patients with Riata? leads.METHODS Among 51 patients with normal baseline electrical parameters, 20 died during follow-up. Of the remaining 31 pa...AIM To describe our experience with shock testing for the evaluation of patients with Riata? leads.METHODS Among 51 patients with normal baseline electrical parameters, 20 died during follow-up. Of the remaining 31 patients, 15 underwent the test: In 10 cases a defibrillation testing with ventricular fibrillation(VF) induction and in 5 cases a R-wave-synchronized shock(> 20 J, without inducing VF). The test was performed under sedation with Midazolam. RESULTS Twelve patients(80%) had a normal behavior during shock testing: In 8 cases induced VF was correctly detected and treated; in 4 cases of R-wave-synchronized shock electrical parameters remained stable and normal. Three patients(20%) failed the test. One patient with externalized conductors showed a sudden drop of high-voltage impedance(< 10 Ohm) after a 25 J R-wave-synchronized shock. Two other patients with externalized conductors, undergoing defibrillation testing, showed a short-circuit during shock delivery and the implantable cardioverter defibrillator was unable to interrupt VF.CONCLUSION In Riata? leads the delivery of a low current during routine measurement of high-voltage impedance may not reveal a small short circuit, that can only be evident by attempting to deliver a true shock, either for spontaneous arrhythmias or in the context of a shock testing.展开更多
文摘AIM To describe our experience with shock testing for the evaluation of patients with Riata? leads.METHODS Among 51 patients with normal baseline electrical parameters, 20 died during follow-up. Of the remaining 31 patients, 15 underwent the test: In 10 cases a defibrillation testing with ventricular fibrillation(VF) induction and in 5 cases a R-wave-synchronized shock(> 20 J, without inducing VF). The test was performed under sedation with Midazolam. RESULTS Twelve patients(80%) had a normal behavior during shock testing: In 8 cases induced VF was correctly detected and treated; in 4 cases of R-wave-synchronized shock electrical parameters remained stable and normal. Three patients(20%) failed the test. One patient with externalized conductors showed a sudden drop of high-voltage impedance(< 10 Ohm) after a 25 J R-wave-synchronized shock. Two other patients with externalized conductors, undergoing defibrillation testing, showed a short-circuit during shock delivery and the implantable cardioverter defibrillator was unable to interrupt VF.CONCLUSION In Riata? leads the delivery of a low current during routine measurement of high-voltage impedance may not reveal a small short circuit, that can only be evident by attempting to deliver a true shock, either for spontaneous arrhythmias or in the context of a shock testing.
