Po-633-02 the impact of incision technique on inappropriate shock rates in the untouched study

Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs) implant practice has evolved from the 3-incision (3IT) to the 2-incision technique (2IT). In the UNTOUCHED trial the 2IT was found to reduce implant time by almost 15% but be an independent predictor of inappropriate shocks (IAS). The 2IT relies on tunneling the S-ICD lead vertically from the supra-Xiphoid incision, thus the superior electrode is not secured to the underlying muscle or fascia. Whether the association between the 2IT and IAS is related to the technique itself or confounding variables is unclear.