The Canadian experience with Durata and Riata ST Optim defibrillator leads: a report from the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society Device Committee.

Background: The St. Jude Medical Riata family of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads has demonstrated a high rate of externalized conductors and electrical failure.

Objective: Given similar design elements of Durata to Riata, the purpose of this study was to assess the rates of failure of the Riata ST Optim and Durata lead families in Canada.

Real-time transmission to real-time patient care: a tale of 4 devices.

We report a case in which a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy presented with syncope, terminated by a shock from his implantable cardioverter defibrillator. However, subsequent interrogation of the device revealed no tachycardia detection or treatment parameters. The mystifying details of the case were unravelled by remote consultation with the staff electrophysiologist and the use of smart phone-transmitted live images.

Using left-ventricular-only pacing to eliminate T-wave oversensing in a biventricular implantable cardiac defibrillator.

A man aged 75 years and with nonischemic cardiomyopathy had implantation of a biventricular implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD). Consistent biventricular pacing was limited by intermittent T-wave oversensing (TWOS). A strategy of left-ventricular-only pacing was used to eliminate TWOS.

Long-term efficacy of cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter/defibrillators.

Cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter/defibrillators are becoming more common due to expanded indications and increasing patient survival. In addition, these device systems are being implanted in younger patients, which increases their necessity for long-term durability. Device adverse events can be seen early, during or following implantation (perforation, lead dislodgement, infection), or late (lead fraction, insulation failure or device system infection).