Electrocardiographically Documented Unnecessary, Spontaneous Shocks in 241 Patients With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

The incidence and cause of electrocardiographically documented spontaneous implantuble Cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) discharges for a rhythm other than ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation (VF) (unnecessary shocks) were determined in 241 patients who underwent ICD implantation between March 1983 and November 1991. During follow‐up of 24 ± 20 months, 54 of 241 patients (22%) received a total of 132 unnecessary ICD shocks confirmed by Holler or telemetry monitoring or stored electrograms (Egs) from the ICD. The rhythm preceding these unnecessary ICD shocks was atrial fibrillation in 30 patients, sinus or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in 11 patients, antitachycardia pacing triggered by atrial fibrillation or SVT resulting in VT in 5 patients, nonsustained VT in 3 patients, and normal sinus or pacemaker rhythm in 10 patients. Unnecessary ICD discharges occurred most frequently during the first week after implantation or generator replacement (18 of 54 patients [33%]). Unnecessary ICD discharges could be documented more often by stored Egs in patients with devices with Eg storage capability (Ventritex Cadence(tm), 19 of 54 patients [35%]) than by Holter or telemetry monitoring in patients with devices without Eg storage capabilities (34 of 193 patients [18%], P < 0.01), despite a shorter mean follow‐up duration of 14 ± 9 months versus 26 ± 21 months, respectively. Only six of 54 patients (11%) in whom unnecessary ICD discharges occurred had recurrent unnecessary shocks during 22 ± 20 months of follow‐up after treatment directed at the cause of the first episode or device reprogramming to preclude non‐VT rhythm detection. In conclusion, unnecessary ICD shocks are a frequent complication of ICD therapy occurring in at least 22% of patients. The cause of these shocks is most frequently atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response. The availability of Eg storage capabilities facilitates the diagnosis of the electrical event precipitating inappropriate ICD shocks. Diagnosis of the cause of unnecessary shocks allows for the institution of therapy that may reduce the risk for subsequent events.