Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Early complications and long-term outcomes of patients treated with a subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator: temporal trends and clinical implications of the anaesthetic strategies adopted at implant
- Prospective cohort study
- nationwide
- single-arm
- observational
Authors' conclusion
The anaesthesia strategy used for S-ICD implantation was not associated with poorer short- or long-term clinical outcomes, supporting non-general anaesthesia as a feasible alternative in appropriately selected patients.
Study context
- Population
- All patients implanted with an subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) (EMBLEM) in France, 2012–2019HONEST cohort
- Participants
- 4,924 patients
- Exposure
- Non-general anaesthesia vs general anaesthesia for S-ICD implantation
- Non-GAn = 1,041
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
30-day complication rate · 30 days
P = 0.85
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Non-GA | GA |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term outcomes (events per 100 person-years) · follow-up | ||
| Overall complications | 4.29 | 4.73 |
| Reintervention | 1.21 | 1.62 |
| Inappropriate shocks | 2.88 | 2.78 |
| All-cause mortality | 2.93 | 2.56 |
- Long-term outcomes (events per 100 person-years): overall complications P = 0.937
- Long-term outcomes (events per 100 person-years): reintervention P = 0.963
- Long-term outcomes (events per 100 person-years): inappropriate shocks P = 0.782
- Long-term outcomes (events per 100 person-years): all-cause mortality P = 0.938
Multivariable analysis, all outcomes
- No differences across outcomes
- all P values >0.1
Non-GA use over time · 2012 to 2019
- Proportion of non-GA use increased from 2.5% to 26.9%
- P < 0.001
Original publication
Early complications and long-term outcomes of patients treated with a subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator: temporal trends and clinical implications of the anaesthetic strategies adopted at implant. Europace. Published 12 June 2026. doi:10.1093/europace/euag148
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it