Estimated longevity of contemporary subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: Multicenter real-world data

The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) has become an established alternative to the transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and has been incorporated into international guidelines for the prevention of sudden cardiac death over the past decade. Device longevity is a critical aspect of ICD therapy, yet contemporary data on the performance of current S-ICD models are limited. Early reports largely reflect first-generation devices, which differ from those in current practice owing to progressive design improvements and the resolution of a previous advisory on premature battery depletion. 5 As implantation volumes increase, real-world data from modern S-ICD systems are now emerging. Remote monitoring platforms, in particular, provide an opportunity to capture device performance over time. In this study, we evaluated the longevity of contemporary S-ICD generators and the factors influencing battery performance in a multicenter cohort followed through remote monitoring. Contemporary S-ICDs demonstrate an estimated longevity of 9 years, exceeding manufacturer expectations and approaching the range of transvenous ICDs.