Abstract 20242: Routine DFT Testing in Patients Undergoing ICD Implantation Does Not Improve Mortality: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Traditionally, Defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing has been an integral part of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation to confirm appropriate sensing of ventricular fibrillation and to establish an adequate safety margin for defibrillation. However, there is lack of evidence behind routine DFT testing. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to assess its mortality benefit. Hypothesis: Routine DFT testing improves mortality. Methods: We searched MEDLINE for all studies comparing mortality outcomes in ICD recipients who underwent DFT testing to those who did not. For the second analysis, studies comparing outcomes in high versus low energy DFT were included. Odds ratio and standard errors were calculated and inverse variance method in a random effect model was used to combine effect sizes. Results: Fourteen studies with 10,762 subjects comparing outcomes in patients who underwent routine DFT testing during ICD implantation and those who did not were included. There was n...