Arati Gangadharan

and 11 more

Introduction: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) is an alternative to a transvenous ICD in patients who meet criteria for ICD implantation without concurrent need for cardiac pacing. The objective of this study is to examine the rates of and indications for S-ICD removal and extraction. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent S-ICD implantation between 2010 and 2022 at a single multihospital healthcare system was performed. The primary endpoint was S-ICD removal or extraction. Patient and device characteristics were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Univariate and multivariate analyses were completed to determine factors associated with S-ICD extraction. Results: A total of 372 patients (69.5% male; 48.6 ± 14.4 years old) underwent S-ICD implantation during the study period. There were 22 (5.9%) patients (81.8% male; 52.1 ± 13.2 years old) who underwent S-ICD extraction over a median follow up period of 4.4 [2.0-6.5] years. The median length of time between implantation and extraction was 39.6 [8.3-64.6] months. The most common indications for S-ICD extraction were need for bradycardia pacing (incidence, 1.08%), infection (1.34%), and inappropriate shocks due to oversensing (1.34%). A smoking history and higher body mass index were independently associated with S-ICD extraction. Conclusions: The overall rate of S-ICD extraction over 4.4 [2.0-6.5] years was 5.9%, with the most common indications for extraction being need for bradycardia pacing, infection, and inappropriate shocks due to oversensing. A smoking history and high body mass index are associated with increased rates of S-ICD extraction. With appropriate patient selection for the S-ICD, the need to remove the device after implantation is low.