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Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: beyond efficacy.
A T Timóteo1, P Adragão, F Morgado
1Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Cruz, Carnaxide, Portugal.
Summary
Complications from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) occurred in 32% of patients, with inappropriate shocks being the most common issue. Overall, major adverse events were infrequent, aligning with findings from other research centers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Devices
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are crucial for treating malignant ventricular arrhythmias.
- ICD implantation carries risks of early and late complications, necessitating careful patient selection.
- Understanding complication incidence is vital for optimizing patient care and device management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of early and late complications associated with ICD implantation in a specific patient cohort.
- To compare observed complication rates with those reported in existing literature.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 98 patients who received an ICD.
- Data collection on procedural and device-related complications.
- Comparison of findings with published data from other studies.
Main Results:
- A 32% complication rate was observed in the study population.
- Inappropriate shocks were the most frequent complication (13%), followed by infection (4%) and lead insulation faults (5%).
- Device inefficacy (5%), syncope (2%), and a 13% overall mortality rate (3% sudden death) were also noted during a mean follow-up of 2.9 years.
Conclusions:
- Major complications related to ICDs were found to be relatively uncommon in this patient group.
- The study's findings are consistent with complication rates reported by other international centers.
- These results support the continued use of ICDs while emphasizing the importance of monitoring for potential adverse events.