Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyResearch article

Subcutaneous ICD therapy in patients with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia: Arrhythmia recurrence, shock rate, and management strategies

Heart RhythmPublished

  • Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) implantations
  • consecutive de novo

Authors' conclusion

In patients with previous MVT, the S-ICD provided safe and effective protection against ventricular arrhythmias. Ablation was the preferred management strategy, and no patients required conversion to a transvenous device. These findings support the use of the S-ICD as a viable option in this patient population.

Study context

Population
Patients with a history of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) receiving de novo S-ICD implantationidentified from 2164 consecutive de novo S-ICD implantations (10%)
Participants
210 patients

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Sustained MVT recurrence · median follow-up of 43 months (interquartile range 21-70)

patients experiencing MVT episodes

21 patients (10%)

MVT episodes (60 isolated, 6 storms)

66

total ventricular arrhythmic episodes, all successfully terminated by shocks

98

annualized rate of MVT

2.8%/y

Further findings

Appropriate shocks

rate of appropriate shocks
4.9%/y
First-shock efficacy for both MVT and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation
93%

Management of recurrent MVT

Approximately half of patients with recurrent MVT underwent ablation, with high procedural success
No patient required S-ICD explantation or conversion to a transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for antitachycardia pacing (ATP) delivery

Safety

Complications and inappropriate shocks

complication rate
2.3%/y
inappropriate shock rate
2.8%/y

Original publication

Subcutaneous ICD therapy in patients with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia: Arrhythmia recurrence, shock rate, and management strategies. Heart Rhythm. Published 25 May 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.05.034

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it