Conclusions:
In appropriately selected patients undergoing implantation of the S-ICD,
the likelihood of needing the device removed or extracted was 5.9% over
4.4 years. The most common indications for extraction were need for
bradycardia pacing, infection, and inappropriate shock due to
oversensing. Those with a history of smoking and those of higher body
mass indices are more likely to undergo S-ICD extraction. Further work
must be done to determine whether these results regarding rates of, and
indications for, S-ICD extraction are transferrable to other health
systems.
Acknowledgments: All authors take responsibility for the
decision to submit the article for publication. All authors had complete
access to the data analyzed in this study and take full responsibility
for the integrity of the data and its analysis.