Usefulness of placement of intraoperative epicardial wires during automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator insertion to preclude the need for transvenous catheters at the predischarge electrophysiology study

Abstract

The management of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death has changed remarkably since the advent of the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD). 1–6 In patients undergoing implantation of the AICD, postoperative testing is used to judge the efficacy of the device. In the past, the predischarge study has required placement of transvenous pacing catheters in order to induce clinical arrhythmias. We evaluated the reliability of induction of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in the postoperative period using temporary epicardial pacing wires placed during AICD implatation.