Perioprocedural mortality after ICD implantation

BACKGROUND Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) represent an established treatment in preventing sudden cardiac death in patients with indications for primary or secondary prophylaxis. As for all complex surgical procedures there remains a risk for the occurrence of complications including death also for ICD implantation. The aim of the present study was to analyze the procedure-related mortality in patients after ICD implantation using the data from the obligatory quality assurance program in North-Rhine/Westphalia. METHODS Data of all 18,625 patients from the quality assurance datasets who underwent ICD implantation in the years 2010-2012 were analyzed. RESULTS During the in-hospital stay 118 patients (0.6%) died after ICD implantation. Patients > 80 years old had a higher mortality (1.9% vs. 0.5% in patients  1.5 mg/dl not requiring dialysis). Patients with indications for ICD secondary prophylaxis had a significantly higher mortality (1.2% vs. 0.4%, p < 0.001), which increased from 0.6% to 3.7% (p < 0.001) with the occurrence of complications. CONCLUSION The procedure-related mortality after ICD implantation is increased in patients over 80 years of age, higher NYHA class, patients requiring dialysis, in secondary prevention indications and after the occurrence of perioperative complications.