Comparison of Active and Passive Leads for Endocardial Pacing—II

Four commerciaily available fransvenous pacing leads were evaluated in a series of 240 implanfs on a rotalional order basis. Total (in-tra- and post-operative) failure rates for this series were: Cordis 1 mm, 1/60 (1.7%); Biotroniik IE-65-I, 5/60 (8.3%); Medtronic 6961, 4/60 (6.7%); and CP1 4316, 6/60 (10.0%). Post-operative faiJure rates were: l mm, 1/60 (1.7%); IE-65-1, 4/59 (6.8%); 6961, 0/56 (0.0%), and 4116, 3/57 (5.3%). In a previous study conducted at this center with identical protocol, total failure rates were: Medtronic 6907, 7/76 (9.2%); Cordis CL, 7/76 (9.2%); Biotronik IE-65-I, 2/76 (2.6%); and the Vitatron MIP-2000, 9/45 (20.0%). Post-operotive failure rates were: 6907, 4/73 (5.5%); CL, 6/75 (8.0%); IE-65-I, 2/76 (2.6%); and MIP-2000, 5/41 (12.2%). If the two IE-65-1 series are combined, the totaJ faiJure rate is 7/136 (5.1 %), and the post-operative failure rate is 6/135 (4.4%). Significant differences exist between the highest and lowest failure rates in total and post-operative cases for each series. The final decision concerning use of a par-ticular lead must, of course, be based on clinical criteria.