Intermuscular two-incision technique for implantation of the subcutaneous implantable defibrillator: 3-year follow-up

FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Type of funding sources: None. BACKGROUND: data on long-term outcome of the intermuscular (IM) two-incision implantation technique for the subcutaneous implantable cardioverted defibrillator (S-ICD) are lacking. PURPOSE: the aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcome of patients underwent S-ICD implantation with the IM two-incision technique during 3-year follow-up. METHODS: the study population consisted of 105 consecutive patients (79 male; median 50 [13-77] years) underwent S-ICD implantation with the IM two-incision technique. RESULTS: according to the PRAETORIAN score, the risk of conversion failure was classified as low in 99 patients (94.3%), intermediate in 6 (5.7%).Ventricular fibrillation was successfully converted at ≤65 J in 97.4% of patients. During a median follow-up of 39 (16-53) months, 10 patients (9.5%) experienced device-related complications and 9 (8.5%) patients reported inappropriate shocks (IAS). Lead-associated complications were the most common (4.7%), including 2 cases of lead failure (1.9%). Pocket complications were reported in 2 patients (1.9%). Extra-cardiac oversensing (3.8%) represented the leading cause of IAS. No T-wave oversensing episodes were recorded. Twelve patients (11.4%) experienced appropriate shocks. Eight patients (7.6%) died during follow-up. IAS or device-related complications did not impact on mortality (HR 0.5; 95%CI 0-4.3; P=0.5; HR 0.7; 95%CI 0.1-6.0; P=0.8, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: according to our findings, the IM two-incision technique allows for optimal positioning of the device achieving a low PRAETORIAN score with a high conversion rate. IM two-incision technique allows low incidence of pocket complications, shifting the type of complications towards lead-related complications, which represent the most common complications. The IM two-incision technique would not seem to impact the occurrence of IAS. Management of complications are safe without impact on the outcome. [Figure: see text]