Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators for children and young adolescents: mortality benefit confirmed--what's next?

Use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in children supported with ventricular assist device: An analysis of data from the EUROMACS registry

BACKGROUND

Data on the use and outcome of children on ventricular assist device (VAD) support provided with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) remains poor.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the EUROMACS database on children supported with VAD < 19 years of age from January 1, 2009 to April 1, 2020. Patients with missing data on status of ICD, missing baseline and/or follow up information were excluded. The primary independent variable of interest was the concomitant presence or absence of an ICD at the time of VAD placement. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate survival differences between children on VAD with and without an ICD.

RESULTS

Out of 303 patients provided with a VAD, 7% (7♀, 15♂) had an ICD implanted and formed the study group. Median age was 14 years, median weight was 43.5 kg, and median BSA was 1.39. Median Intermacs stage was 2 (range: 1-7). Seventeen patients (77%) were transplanted, 4 (18%) died while on support, and 1 (5%) was weaned from device after myocardial recovery. Median time on support was 68 days compared to 361 days in the control group (p: 0.01). Three patients underwent device exchange due to thrombus formation in the pump. There was no difference in survival between groups (p = 0.342).

CONCLUSION

The presence of ICD in pediatric patients supported with a VAD is low (7%). Children on VAD support provided with an ICD do not have a survival benefit compared to children without an ICD.

Quality of life after videoscopic left cardiac sympathetic denervation in patients with potentially life-threatening cardiac channelopathies/cardiomyopathies

BACKGROUND

Left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) provides an additive or potentially alternative treatment option for patients with life-threatening cardiac channelopathies/cardiomyopathies.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to examine the effects of LCSD on quality of life (QOL).

METHODS

From November 2005 to May 2013, 109 patients who underwent LCSD were subsequently sent postoperative QOL surveys.

RESULTS

Of 109 patients, 8 (7%) could not be contacted. Of the remaining 101 patients, 62 returned surveys (response rate 61%). There were an average of 4.1 ± 1.8 self-reported side effects immediately after LCSD. The most common anticipated side effects included unilateral hand dryness, color or temperature variance between sides of the face, and abnormal sweating. Although parent-reported pediatric physical QOL scores were lower than national norms, there were no differences in psychosocial QOL or disability scores (P = .09 and .33, respectively). QOL scores for adult patients were not significantly different from a US normative sample. Adult LCSD patients reported less disability than a US normative sample (P < .01). There was no correlation between QOL scores and the presence of anticipated side effects. However, among the subset of pediatric patients who continued to receive ventricular fibrillation-terminating implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks after LCSD, there was a correlation between their disability scores and the number of reported shocks (Spearman correlation = 0.56). The majority of patients/parents reported that they were very or somewhat satisfied with their surgery (or their child's surgery) and would definitely or probably recommend LCSD to another patient.

CONCLUSION

Despite the anticipated side effects associated with LCSD, patients are satisfied with their surgery and indicate that they would recommend the surgery to another patient.

Critical appraisal of cardiac implantable electronic devices: complications and management

Population aging and broader indications for the implant of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are the main reasons for the continuous increase in the use of pacemakers (PMs), implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and devices for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-P, CRT-D). The growing burden of comorbidities in CIED patients, the greater complexity of the devices, and the increased duration of procedures have led to an augmented risk of infections, which is out of proportion to the increase in implantation rate. CIED infections are an ominous condition, which often implies the necessity of hospitalization and carries an augmented risk of in-hospital death. Their clinical presentation may be either at pocket or at endocardial level, but they can also manifest themselves with lone bacteremia. The management of these infections requires the complete removal of the device and subsequent, specific, antibiotic therapy. CIED failures are monitored by competent public authorities, that require physicians to alert them to any failures, and that suggest the opportune strategies for their management. Although the replacement of all potentially affected devices is often suggested, common practice indicates the replacement of only a minority of devices, as close follow-up of the patients involved may be a safer strategy. Implantation of a PM or an ICD may cause problems in the patients’ psychosocial adaptation and quality of life, and may contribute to the development of affective disorders. Clinicians are usually unaware of the psychosocial impact of implanted PMs and ICDs. The main difference between PM and ICD patients is the latter’s dramatic experience of receiving a shock. Technological improvements and new clinical evidences may help reduce the total burden of shocks. A specific supporting team, providing psychosocial help, may contribute to improving patient quality of life.

Almost normal: experiences of adolescents with implantable cardioverter defibrillators

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of adolescents with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).

DESIGN AND METHODS

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of 14 adolescents with ICDs using face-to-face, semistructured interviews.

RESULTS

Six themes were identified: life interrupted; still the same, except; sometimes it's tough; it cuts both ways; unique joule; and living life regular.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

These findings suggest that nurses could make a significant impact on the lives of adolescents with ICDs by focusing their efforts away from viewing the adolescent through an illness lens and more toward a normalization lens.

Results of a multicenter retrospective implantable cardioverter-defibrillator registry of pediatric and congenital heart disease patients

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine the implications of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement in children and patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).

BACKGROUND

There is increasing frequency of ICD use in pediatric and CHD patients. Until recently, prospective registry enrollment of ICD patients was not available, and children and CHD patients account for only a small percentage of ICD recipients. Therefore, we retrospectively obtained collaborative data from 4 pediatric centers, aiming to identify implant characteristics, shock frequency, and complications in this unique population.

METHODS

Databases from 4 centers were collated in a blinded fashion. Demographic information, implant electrical parameters, appropriate and inappropriate shock data, and complications were recorded for all implants from 1992 to 2004.

RESULTS

A total of 443 patients were included, with a median age of 16 years (range 0 to 54 years) and median weight of 61 kg (range 2 to 130 kg), with 69% having structural heart disease. The most common diagnoses were tetralogy of Fallot (19%) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (14%). Implant indication was primary prevention in 52%. Shock data were available on 409 patients, of whom 105 (26%) received appropriate shocks (mean 4 shocks/patient, range 1 to 29 shocks/patient). Inappropriate shocks occurred in 87 of 409 patients (21%), with a mean of 6 per patient (range 1 to 60), mainly attributable to lead failure (14%), sinus or atrial tachycardias (9%), and/or oversensing (4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Children and CHD ICD recipients have significant appropriate and inappropriate shock frequencies. Optimizing programming, medical management, and compliance may diminish inappropriate shocks. Despite concerns regarding generator recalls, lead failure remains the major cause of inappropriate shocks, complications, and system malfunction in children. Prospective assessment of ICD usage in this population may identify additional important factors in pediatric and CHD patients.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators in children

The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators in children presents several unique challenges for the pediatric cardiologist. Size considerations and hardware limitations are important in the current generation of devices that are not designed with children in mind. Defibrillator devices are used to prolong life, which may have significant implications for leads and electrodes that are affixed to the heart in a child who has continued growth potential. A greater number of children with congenital heart defects are surviving into adulthood, many of whom have a risk of late sudden death following repair. These patients may also have unique anatomic considerations that may affect device placement. This article will address some of the issues faced when considering the use of implantable-defibrillator therapy in the pediatric population.