The Significance of Surface Changes on Explanted Polyurethane Pacemaker Leads

Although over 140,000 polyurethane leads have been implanted in humans, a controversy has recently arisen dealing with the significance of frequently detected irregularities on explanled insulator surfaces by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their relationship with lead failure. We therefore implanted ten, 6 Fratrial polyurethane leads and an equal number of 4 Fr ventricular leads in dogs for a mean 26 ± 2 and 29 ± 2 weeks, respectively. Fourteen leads were removed utilizing metered force. The remaining leads were removed surgically without force at the termination of the study. Specimens were stored in saline prior to physical testing (tensile strength and elongation) of intravascular and extravascular lead segments. Similarly stored samples were prepared for SEM analysis. The polyurethane insulator disconnected from the electrode on forcible removal in three atrial and two ventricular leads (concordant connected from the electrode on forcible removal in three atrial and two ventricular leads (concordant for two pairs). There was no significant relationship between the results of physical testing and extraction force, lead size, integrity on removal, sample location or SEM scores. Chemical analysis of surface changes employing both x‐ray and electron emission spectroscopy failed to reveal evidence of protein adsorption or liquid impregnation. Samples soaked in sodium hydroxide displayed the same SEM irregularities. The combined effects of fissuring and fluid absorption by polyurethane did not affect chronic anodal or cathodal thresholds, in conclusion, a clear relationship between chronic surface irregularities and the insulator function of polyurethane, its integrity in situ, or its strength atexplanthas not been established by this relatively short‐term study. On the other hand, a potential time‐dependent impact of these changes on lead performance has not been excluded. Moreover, only a single species of medical grade polyurethane has been clinically evaluated. Thus, the ultimate place of polyurethane leads in pacing systems hasyet to be determined.