Optimal strength and number of shocks at upper limit of vulnerability testing required to predict high defibrillation threshold without inducing ventricular fibrillation.

Background: The upper limit of vulnerability (ULV) closely correlates with the defibrillation threshold (DFT). The aim of this study was to establish the optimal protocol for using the ULV test to predict high DFT (>20 J) without inducing ventricular fibrillation (VF).

Methods And Results: The 10-J and 15-J ULV test with 3 coupling intervals (-20, 0, and +20 ms to the peak of T-wave) and the DFT test were performed in 96 patients receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillator. ULV ≤ 10 J was confirmed in 47 (49%). ULV ≤ 15 J was confirmed in 70 (77%) of 91 patients (15-J ULV test could not be done in 5). The sensitivity and negative predictive value of both ULV >10 J and >15 J for predicting high DFT were 100%. The specificity and positive predictive value of ULV >15 J were higher than those for ULV >10 J (85% vs. 55%, 43% vs. 22%, respectively). The rate of VF inducibility for confirming ULV ≤ 15 J was lower than that for ULV ≤ 10 J (23% vs. 51%, P<0.0001). On analysis of single 15-J ULV test only at the peak of T-wave, VF was not induced in 79 of 91 patients, but 4 of these had high DFT.

Conclusions: The 15-J ULV test with 3 coupling intervals could correctly identify high-DFT patients and reduce the necessity for VF induction at defibrillator implantation.