title: The role of defibrillation testing.
abstract: The induction and termination of ventricular fibrillation at the time of defibrillator insertion (defibrillation testing [DT]) has traditionally been an integral component of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation. However, over the last 10 years, published series suggested a high rate of first-shock efficacy for clinical ventricular arrhythmias, even if no DT was done. Over the same time, several published reports and series have shown uncommon but serious complications related to DT. Throughout the world, there has been a steady decline in the proportion of patients receiving an ICD who undergo DT, which, in many regions, is less than 50%.
authors: McMaster University, 237 Barton Street East, Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada.
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Amit
authors: McMaster University, 237 Barton Street East, Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada; Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, Room C3-121, DBCVSRI Building, General Site, 237 Barton Street East, Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada. Electronic address: Jeff.Healey@Phri.ca.
authors: Jeff S
authors: JS
authors: Healey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000592:standards*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061214:Patient Safety; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Defibrillation testing; Fibrillation; Implantable defibrillator; Ventricular tachycardia