Eligibility of patients with temporary paced rhythm for a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

A concomitant use of a pacemaker and a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-de-fibrillator (S-ICD) may be required in some patients.

Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of permanent cardiac pacing on the morphology of the QRS complex in the context of S-ICD screening.

One hundred patients with cardiac electronic implantable devices (CIEDs) were included in whom S-ICD screening could be performed both during intrinsic and paced rhythm.

The positive result of screening during spontaneous rhythm for at least one vector (in both supine and standing positions) was obtained in 80% and for 2 vectors in 59% of patients. Positive screening during paced rhythm for at least one vector was recorded in 36% of patients (78% right ventricular and 22% biventricular pacing) and for 2 vectors in 15% of patients (93% right ventricular and 7% biventricular pacing). At least one vector acceptable during both types of rhythm and in both positions was recorded in 23% of patients and at least 2 vectors in 8% of patients.

The use of S-ICD in patients with paced ventricular rhythm is associated with a serious risk of inappropriate sensing due to different QRS morphology during intrinsic and paced rhythm, and it is particularly high in patients in whom periods of spontaneous rhythm interchange with periods of ventricular pacing. That risk has been hardly acknowledged in available reports, but according to our data, it is significant, and therefore it should be considered during S-ICD screening.