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New ICD-technologies: first clinical experience with dual-chamber sensing for differentiation of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias

Inappropriate ICD therapy for supraventricular arrhythmias remains an unsolved problem and may lead to serious clinical situations. Current algorithms for differentiation of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias are based on ventricular sensing solely and, therefore, lack sensitivity and specificity. This preliminary analysis from a multicenter trial comprises data from the first 26 patients who received a Res-Q Micron active-can ICD (Sulzer Intermedics) with a ventricular defibrillation lead and an additional bipolar lead for atrial sensing. Digitized atrial and ventricular waveform storage as well as interval charts from 102 induced and 30 spontaneous arrhythmia episodes were prospectively collected and analyzed with regard to appropriateness of ICD therapy. From all 132 arrhythmia episodes, high-quality stored dual-chamber intracardiac electrograms (IEGM) could be retrieved for further analysis: in 40 (30%) episodes, atrial fibrillation (AF with rapid ventricular response 22, AF with VT 9, AF with VF 9) was identified as the underlying intrinsic rhythm, and inappropriate ICD therapy was delivered in 4/22 (18%) episodes of AF with rapid ventricular response. In the remaining 92 (70%) episodes, sinus rhythm was the underlying atrial rhythm (SR with VT 13, SR with VF 79), and no inappropriate therapy was observed. Three of 22 (15%) high-energy shocks delivered for ventricular arrhythmias (VT 9, VF 9, rapid AF 4) terminated AF at the same time. In total, there were 3 complications (2 atrial lead dislodgments, 1 revision for bleeding). Both atrial lead dislodgments occurred in the 2 patients with passive-fixation leads compared to none in the 24 patients with active-fixation leads (p = 0.003). In conclusion, dual-chamber sensing and waveform storage of the new Res-Q Micron offer very helpful diagnostic tools for the detection of inappropriate ICD-therapy. Placement of an additional atrial lead is safe and does not interfere with proper ICD function. However, for avoidance of atrial lead dislodgment, active fixation leads are recommended. With the tested active-can lead configuration, the efficacy of successful atrial cardioversion by high-energy shocks delivered for ventricular arrhythmias seems to be low.