Summary of previously published studies
| Study | Patient number, setting | Implant dates | Mean age at implant (years) | NYHA I/II | Age ≤16 years | Male sex | Primary prevention | Mean follow-up (years) | Appropriate shock rates* | Primary prevention appropriate shock rates | Secondary prevention appropriate shock rates | Inappropriate shocks (% of patients) | Implant complications† (% of patients) | Cardiovascular mortality‡ |
| Primo et al9 | 13, 2 centres | NA | 48±13 | NA | Yes | 62% | 15% | 2.2 | 21% at 4 years | NA | NA | 23 | NA | 0 |
| Maron et al7 | 128, 19 centres | 1984–1998 | 40±16 | 86% | Yes | 69% | 66% | 3.1 | 7%/year | 5%/year | 11%/year | 25 | 14 | NA§ |
| Begley et al4 | 132, 1 centre | 1987–2001 | 34±17 | NA | Yes | 61% | 64% | 4.8 | 25% at 5 years | 16% in 5-years | 36% in 5-years | 23 | 10 | 3% deaths, 0.8% transplants |
| Jayatilleke et al5 | 22, 1 centre | 1997–2003 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 82% | 2.9 | 11%/year | 10%/year | 17%/year | 9 | 5 | NA |
| Marin et al12¶ | 45, 3 centres | 2000–2005 | 43±20 | 91% | Yes | 62% | 60% | 2.5 | 7%/year | 1.6%/year | 11.1%/year | 27 | 2.2 | 4% deaths |
| Woo et al10 | 61, 1 centre | 1996–2003 | 46±18 | NA | Yes | 66% | 82% | 3.3 | 4%/year | NA | NA | 33 | 13# | 2% deaths, 2% transplants |
| Kaski et al11 | 22, 1 centre | 1993–2006 | 14 | 84% | Yes | 59% | 77% | 1.7 | 13%/year, 20% at 5 years | 4.1%/year | 71%/year | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| Maron et al8 ** | 506, 42 centres | 1986–2003 | 42±17 | 87% | Yes | 64% | 76% | 3.7 | 5.5%/year, 23% at 5 years | 3.6%/year | 10.6%/year | 27 | 12 | 4% deaths, 2% transplants |
| Lin et al6 | 181, 1 centre | 1988–2005 | 44±17 | NA | Yes | 62% | 86% | 4.9 | 4%/year | NA | NA | 23 | 26 | 4% deaths, 2% transplants |
| Syska et al13 | 104, 1 centre | 1996–2006 | 36±17 | 95% | NA | 45% | 75% | 4.6 | 5.6%/year | 4.0%/year | 7.9%/year | 34 | 24 | 3% deaths, 1% transplant |
| The Heart Hospital | 334, 1 centre | 1992–2009 | 42±14 | 92% | No | 62% | 92% | 3.8 | 2.3%/year, 13% at 5 years | 2.0%/year | 4.3%/year | 16 | 18 | 3% deaths, 3% transplants |
↵* The cumulative risk and yearly shock rate are provided when available.
↵† The studies shown have not used the same criteria for the reporting of complications, and two include psychological complications.4 11
↵‡ Uniform criteria were not used; the definition used in this manuscript was applied to aid comparison.
↵§ Two deaths are reported, but the cause is not stated.
↵¶ Data were supplemented by personal communication with Dr Juan Gimeno.
↵** This study includes 150 previously reported patients in Maron et al7 and Jayatilleke et al.5 Nine arrhythmias terminated by antitachycardia pacing are included in the analysis. Only ‘major’ complications are reported; the definition of these events is not reported.
# 8 patients had lead fracture or dislodgement in the context of inappropriate shocks, but no other complication is discussed
NA, not available; NYHA, New York Heart Association.