ICD and HCM:
In high-risk patients defined as those with a history of cardiac arrest or with ≥ 2 risk factors, ICD are lifesaving.
Results from a recent multicentre registry indicated that an important proportion of appropriate ICD discharges occurred in high-risk patients who had undergone implantation for a single risk factor.
Potential complications of ICD therapy are pneumothorax, haematoma, lead revisions, and infection.
The main concern, however, is inappropriate shocks that may occur in up to 36% of patients.