Unrecognized Failure of a Narrow Caliber Defibrillation Lead: The Role of Defibrillation Threshold Testing in Identifying an Unprotected Individual

In this case report we describe a short circuit in the Riata 1570 defibrillator lead (Riata 1570, St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) that was unsuspected owing to normal lead parameters until defibrillator threshold testing at the time of elective generator change. On this occasion, the short circuit manifested as unsuccessful defibrillation of ventricular fibrillation with immediate battery depletion. This report adds weight to existing …