Pachulski R T, Kleiman R B, Josephson M E, Marchlinski F E
Cardiology Division, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1992 Sep;15(9):1253-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1992.tb03136.x.
It is a common, although virtually unsubstantiated, practice to assess the efficacy of nonthoracotomy lead systems for implantable cardioverter defibrillators using a defibrillator paddle as mimic for the subcutaneous patch lead. We report a case in which an adequate defibrillation threshold was documented with the nonthoracotomy lead system using a defibrillator paddle but not following implantation of the true subcutaneous patch lead. This case suggests that the substitution of a defibrillator paddle for the subcutaneous patch lead during nonthoracotomy lead system evaluation may have significant limitations in assessing lead configuration efficacy.
