We present the case of a 30-year-old man with a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) who suffered sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. During resuscitation, the patient received inappropriate shocks due to oversensing by the S-ICD of chest compression induced artifact.
The rhythm on the EMS monitor showed asystole throughout the period of resuscitation. Placement of a magnet over the S-ICD generator failed to inhibit the delivery of S-ICD shocks.
Information regarding inappropriate S-ICD shocks may be useful during resuscitation of patients with sudden cardiac arrest.