AIMS: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) was introduced to overcome complications related to transvenous leads. Adoption of the S-ICD requires implanters to learn a new implantation technique. The aim of this study was to assess the learning curve for S-ICD implanters with respect to implant-related complications, procedure time, and inappropriate shocks (IASs). METHODS AND RESULTS: In a pooled cohort from two clinical S-ICD databases, the IDE Trial and the EFFORTLESS Registry, complications, IASs at 180 days follow-up and implant procedure duration were assessed. Patients were grouped in quartiles based on experience of the implanter and Kaplan-Meier estimates of complication and IAS rates were calculated. A total of 882 patients implanted in 61 centres by 107 implanters with a median of 4 implants (IQR 1,8) were analysed. There were a total of 59 patients with complications and 48 patients with IAS. The complication rate decreased significantly from 9.8% in Quartile 1 (least experience) to 5.4% in Quartile 4 (most experience) (P = 0.02) and non-significantly for IAS from 7.9 to 4.8% (P = 0.10). Multivariable analysis demonstrated a hazard ratio of 0.78 (P = 0.045) for complications and 1.01 (P = 0.958) for IAS. Dual-zone programming increased with experience of the individual implanter (P < 0.001), which reduced IAS significantly in the multivariable model (HR 0.44, P = 0.01). Procedure time decreased from 75 to 65 min (P < 0.001). The complication rate and procedure time stabilized after Quartile 2 (>13 implants). CONCLUSION: There is a short and significant learning curve associated with physicians adopting the S-ICD. Performance stabilizes after 13 implants.

• Keywords
• Complications, Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, Inappropriate shock, Learning curve, S-ICD, Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator,
• MeSH
• Databases, Factual MeSH
• Defibrillators, Implantable * MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Electric Countershock * MeSH
• Prosthesis Implantation education   MeSH
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate MeSH
• Cardiac Surgical Procedures education   MeSH
• Learning Curve * MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Multivariate Analysis MeSH
• Follow-Up Studies MeSH
• Proportional Hazards Models MeSH
• Registries MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Observational Study MeSH