Introduction The implantation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) systems in patients with no or limited venous access is technically challenging. After disappointing experiences with epicardial ICD patches, surgical techniques focused on the implantation of subcutaneous high-voltage array electrodes or intrapericardial placement of standard transvenous ICD leads. The Boston Scienti...

AIMS To investigate the efficacy and safety of a cardiac resynchronization therapy with cardioverter-defibrillator (CRT-D) device with simplified ventricular tachycardia management in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure (HF) and primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) indication. METHODS AND RESULTS Prospective, controlled, parallel, multicentre, non-randomized s...

AIMS This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of bacterial colonization of generator pockets in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients without signs of infection and to analyse the impact of bacterial colonization on the incidence of device infection during follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS In 122 ICD patients undergoing generator replacement or surgical lead revision be...

After the introduction of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in clinical practice by Mirowski in 1980 [Mirowski et al., 1980] the first available devices offered only a basic ventricular pacing option. Since approximately 5-20% of patients with an indication for ICD therapy following implantation criteria at that time (secondary prevention) needed antibradycardia pacing as well, t...

Chronic extensive thrombosis of the venous system is a commonly encountered problem in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing transvenous device implantation, lead extraction or lead revision. We describe a case of an ESRD patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) that failed to deliver therapy due to lead fracture. Patient needed revision of the ICD lead system, ...

The twiddler syndrome is an uncommon cause of pacemaker malfunction, in which twisting or rotating of the device in its pocket results in lead retraction or coiling and subsequent malfunction of an implanted devices such as a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).  This report describes a rare case of twiddler syndrome after implant...

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has been demonstrated to improve survival by reducing sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with a low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Randomised trial data suggest that this mortality reduction is not constant among those implanted with a device, and has raised the significance of non-sudden cardiac death (non-SCD) as an important mo...

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) devices were originally developed for prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). They are now widely regarded as the primary therapy for this condition. Clinical trials have led to a progressive expansion in indications for their use.1,2 Recent clinical reports show effectiveness of these devices in patients with recurrent syncope, in the prevention o...

BACKGROUND Heart failure patients with implantable defibrillators (ICD) frequently visit the clinic for routine device monitoring. Moreover, in the case of clinical events, such as ICD shocks or alert notifications for changes in cardiac status or safety issues, they often visit the emergency department or the clinic for an unscheduled visit. These planned and unplanned visits place a great bur...