Usefulness of a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram to predict the eligibility for a subcutaneous defibrillator.

Background: Currently, the eligibility for a subcutaneous implantable defibrillator (S-ICD) system relies on a pre-implant vector screening based on the automated screening tool (AST). We investigated which 12-lead ECG characteristics are associated with eligibility for an S-ICD in a heterogeneous population at risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD). The goal is to determine patient eligibility for S-ICD using the standard 12-lead ECG, thereby avoiding additional AST screening.