The Marriage of Leadless Pacemaker and Subcutaneous ICD

Leadless pacemakers and subcutaneous implantable cardioverter–defibrillators (ICDs) are now common tools in clinical practice — each technology with its strengths and weaknesses. However, a critical weakness of the subcutaneous ICD is the inability to pace the ventricles, whether in antitachycardia or bradycardia. To address this limitation, a device maker developed a leadless pacemaker that could communicate wirelessly with its subcutaneous ICD.

In this manufacturer-sponsored, multinational, single-group study, researchers evaluated the safety and performance of this investigational modular pacing–defibrillator system in 162 patients who had completed 6-month postimplantation follow-up (of 293 total). Patients were typical of those who rece…