Stepping back for good reasons: a reappraisal of the DF-1 connector for defibrillator leads

The DF-4 defibrillator standard has been rapidly adopted due to its convenience at implantation. There are however trade-offs compared to the traditional DF-1 standard that are underappreciated. This viewpoint outlines the advantages and limitations of current defibrillator lead standards that should be kept in mind, as they impact the options that are available to deal with issues that may arise. Graphical Abstract CRT, cardiac resynchronization therapy; CRT-D, cardiac resynchronization therapy implantable defibrillator; CRT-P, cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker; CSP, conduction system pacing; DR, dual-chamber; ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator; PM, pacemaker; VR, single-chamber.