Extravascular ICD – New medical device

The novel concept of extravascular ICD is to counter the shortcomings of transvenous ICDs and subcutaneous ICDs. In extravascular ICD, the lead is implanted under the breastbone, over the heart. This avoids the presence of bone between the lead and the heart, improving the electrical performance of the device. Extravascular ICD can suppress fast heart rhythms by overdrive pacing as well as give successful shocks at lower energies comparable to transvenous ICDs. But implanting the lead under the breastbone needs extra training for the cardiologist who implants the device, under the direct supervision of a cardiac surgeon initially.