Analysis of causes of inappropriate discharge of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in elderly patients / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the causes of inappropriate discharge of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in elderly patients and to discuss the corresponding solutions.Methods Totally 95 elderly patients with ICD were collected.They were followed up and the inappropriate ICD discharges were recorded and analyzed.Results All patients were followed up for 235 times/year totally.There were 16 patients with inappropriate ICD discharges.The causes of inappropriate ICD discharges included ventricular oversensing in 7 patients (43.7％),supraventricular tachycardia misclassified into ventricular tachycardia in 4 patients (25.0％),electrode fracture in 2 patients (12.5％),and electromyogram (EMG) interference,electromagnetic interference and electrode fracture with EMG interference in 1 patients respectively (6.3％ each).11 inappropriate ICD discharges were reduced and avoided by reprogrammed and noninvasive treatment in 16 patients.1 patient with the underdetected ventricular fibrillation after reprogramming and the problem was solved by external defibrillation.The other 5 patients got better by the invasive treatment.Conclusions Different causes account for inappropriate discharges in patients with ICD.Reprogramming the corresponding parameters in different ICD can reduce or avoid inappropriate discharges without affecting the sensitivity of ICD.