Comparison of ICD implantation in obese and nonobese patients

Implantable defibrillator (ICD) therapy improves mortality in patients at risk for sudden cardiac death. Obese patients pose challenges during ICD implantation and may have an increased risk of procedure-related complications. The comparison of acute procedural success and safety of ICD implantation in obese and nonobese patients has not been previously reported.

A total of 181 patients underwent ICD implantation at a single institution. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m(2) . Acute safety and efficacy data were collected and analyzed from a prospectively maintained database, with retrospective chart review, as required.

Among the 181 patients, 58 (32.0%) were obese. Mean BMI was 36.7 ± 6.3 kg/m(2) among obese patients and was 24.6 ± 3.1 kg/m(2) among nonobese patients (P < 0.001). Successful ICD implantation occurred in 58 of 58 (100%) obese patients and 122 of 123 (99.2%) nonobese patients (P = 1.0). A complication was observed in three of 58 (5.2%) obese patients and in seven of 123 (5.7%) nonobese patients (P = 1.0). Similarly, there was no difference in acute procedural success and safety in patients receiving a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)-ICD.

Acute success and safety of ICD implantation is similar in both obese and nonobese patients. This finding extended to patients treated with a CRT-ICD and among patients with extreme obesity. Obesity should probably not be a factor in determining whether a patient is a candidate for ICD implantation.