Combined subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator and pacemaker devices in complex congenital heart disease. A single-center experienced based study.

Abstract

Background: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICD) are widely accepted therapy in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients at risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death (SCD) when pacing is not required. Occasionally, pacemaker (PM) dependent CHD patients will subsequently develop an indication for a cardioverter defibrillator. The use of S-ICD in complex CHD who have had already PM devices implanted implies some specific considerations, as the safety for these patients in unknown and recommendations among physicians may vary widely. Methods: We review the data and studied the indications for S-ICD in complex CHD with previous PM and discuss its usefulness in clinical practice. Results: From a large cohort of 345 patients enrolled in the S-ICD “Monaldi care” registry, that encompass all the patients implanted in the Monaldi Hospital of Naples, we considered 11 consecutive complex CHD patients (10M/1F aged 40.4±18.4 years) who underwent S-ICD implant after a previous PM implant, from February 2015 to October 2022. Mean follow-up was 23.7±22.5 months. All the patients showed a good compliance to the device system with no complications (infections or skin erosions). Conclusions: In complex CHD with already implanted PM devices, S-ICD implant appears to be a safe alternative to PM upgrading to transvenous ICD system, avoiding abandoned leads or life-threatening lead extraction. However, there are important issues with regards to testing and programming that need to be addressed at the time of implantation.

Review on Wearable Technology in Sports: Concepts, Challenges and Opportunities

“…ECG is a technique that records cardiac electrical activity and provides information on heart rate variability (HRV), cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiovascular health [18][19][20]. ECG is a valuable tool for evaluating the health and performance of athletes, as it can reflect the autonomic nervous system regulation, the metabolic demand, and the cardiac adaptation to exercise.…”