[Experience with special-type pacemaker leads (author's transl)].

The dislodgement rate of endocardially placed pacemaker leads can be decreased by the use of special-type electrodes. Since 1963 a total of 2100 pacemaker implantations was performed. Since 1970 we have been using special-type electrodes in 15 to 20% of our patients each year. The complication rate of all pacemaker leads implanted in the period 1974 to 1978 was 7.6%, the rate of the special type electrodes alone came up to 15%. The lead IE--65--I had the greatest deal of this - 11 out of 43 leads had to be removed. 152 electrodes type IVE--85--armed with metal hooks - were implanted, 18 of which had to be revised and 17 of 117 rigid leads type IE--60--KS--10 revealed failure which made revision necessary. In contrast, 54 screw-in leads type 6957, Medtronik and AE--60--YR, Biotronik caused only one perforation - a lethal one. Primary experiences with a porous tip lead (CPII--4116) are good enough to recommend the use of this electrode as a lead of first choice. We saw 2 dislodgements in 50 implantations. Failure to sense or to pace were never seen (time of observation 2 to 18 months).