Prospective long-term follow-up of silicone-polyurethane–insulated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads

BACKGROUND: St Jude Medical (now Abbott) Optim-insulated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads were expected to overcome problems with insulation abrasion and externalized conductors in earlier models. Long-term follow-up is essential to the evaluation of lead performance. OBJECTIVE: To determine, in a prospective cohort of Optim-insulated ICD leads, the rates of all-cause mechanical failure and its subtypes (conductor fracture, …