Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation carries a significant risk of complications, however published estimates appear inconsistent. We aimed to present a contemporary systematic review using meta-analysis methods of ICD complications in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and compare it to recent data from the largest international ICD registry, the US National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR).PubMed was searched for any RCTs involving ICD implantation published 1999–2013; 18 were identified for analysis including 6433 patients, mean follow-up 3 months–5.6 years. Exclusion criteria were studies of children, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, resynchronisation therapy and generator changes.Total pooled complication rate from the RCTs (excluding inappropriate shocks) was 9.1%, including displacement 3.1%, pneumothorax 1.1% and haematoma 1.2%. Infection rate was 1.5%.There were no predictors of complications but longer follow-up showed a trend to higher complication rates (p=0.07). In contrast, data from the NCDR ICD, reporting on 356 515 implants (2006–2010) showed a statistically significant threefold lower total major complication rate of 3.08% with lead displacement 1.02%, haematoma 0.86% and pneumothorax 0.44%.The overall ICD complication rate in our meta-analysis is 9.1% over 16 months. The ICD complication reported in the NCDR ICD registry is significantly lower despite a similar population. This may reflect under-reporting of complications in registries. Reporting of ICD complications in RCTs and registries is very variable and there is a need to standardise classification of complications internationally.

Left atrial size is the major independent determinant of AF recurrence after ablation for persistent AF. This has important implications for patient selection for persistent AF ablation and the evaluation of AF ablation clinical trial results.

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In patients presenting for AF ablation, LA thrombus is only seen in those with clinical risk factors. TOE is indicated in this group but may be unnecessary in patients without clinical risk factors.

TV-ICDs are associated with increased device-related complication rates compared to a propensity matched S-ICD group during a similar follow-up period. Despite the existing significant difference in unit cost of the S-ICD, overall S-ICD costs may be mitigated versus TV-ICDs over a longer follow-up period.