Defibrillation threshold decrease with the supradiaphragmatic extracardiac implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation technique

Europace. 2010 Nov;12(11):1649-51. doi: 10.1093/europace/euq181. Epub 2010 Jun 12.

Abstract

Despite advances in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) technology, the optimal ICD implantation technique for pediatric patients has not yet been established. One increasingly used option is totally extracardiac implantation. However, concern exists about the high defibrillation threshold (DFT) at the moment of implantation or during follow-up. We report the case of a 3-year-old boy with repetitive syncopal idiopathic ventricular tachycardia episodes treated with ICD implantation using the extracardiac technique. Changing device position from abdominal to a supradiaphragmatic, solved unsafe elevated discharge impedance and DFT during follow-up.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Defibrillators, Implantable*
  • Electric Impedance
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prosthesis Implantation / methods
  • Radiography
  • Syncope / diagnostic imaging
  • Syncope / therapy*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / diagnostic imaging
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome