Safety and efficacy of implantable defibrillator therapy with programmed shock energy at twice the augmented step-down defibrillation threshold: results of the prospective, randomized, multicenter low-energy endotak trial

Whether the safety and efficacy of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy can be assured with lower output devices is an important question. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether programming the device output at twice the augmented defibrillation threshold was as safe and effective as using the maximum energy. Patients indicated for ICD therapy, but without slow monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT), who achieved an augmented defibrillation threshold (DFT plus) ≤15 joules (J) with a single endocardial lead system and a biphasic defibrillator were included in the study. Prior to ICD implantation, patients were randomized into 2 groups. The shock energies in test group patients were set as follows: first shock at twice DFT plus, the second to fifth shocks at maximum output (34 J). In control group patients, all shocks were programmed at 34 J. The study population consisted of 166 consecutive patients (mean age 57.4 ± 12.1 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 36.8 ± 13.8%). Mean DFT plus was 9.6 ± 3.2 J in test group patients and 10.1 ± 3.5 J in control group patients (p = 0.36). During a mean follow-up of 24.2 ± 9.6 months, 736 arrhythmia episodes were analyzed. The first shock efficacy was 98.3% in the test group patients versus 97.4% in the control group (p = 0.45). Total mortality was 6%, equally distributed in both study groups. The results of this study prove that the method of doubling the defibrillation energy at the DFT plus level provides an adequate safety margin in defibrillator therapy.