[A life-saving shock from a subcutaneous ICD during skydiving].

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Devices
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICDs) are used for sudden cardiac arrest prevention.
• Assessing device performance during extreme physical activities is crucial.

Observation:

• A 38-year-old male with an S-ICD performed a 3000m skydive.
• Ventricular fibrillation (VF) caused loss of consciousness during the skydive.

Findings:

• The S-ICD accurately detected the VF episode.
• The S-ICD successfully delivered a life-saving shock, terminating the arrhythmia.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates the S-ICD's reliability in extreme environments.
• S-ICD therapy is effective for managing life-threatening arrhythmias even during high-risk activities.