PSEUDO FRACTURE OF A DEFIBRILLATING LEAD

Routine follow-up chest X ray of several patients with the Endotak(TM) transvenous pacing lead suggested fracture of the conductor at the di stal end of the proximal defibrillating coil. Electrical evaluation of these patients' leads demonstrated them to be working normally. Multi ple x-ray views of a new undamaged lead demonstrated that in some proj ections the Endotak lead may appear fractured in spite of normal conti nuity of the conductors. Physicians dealing with these patients should be aware of this confusing x-ray finding.