Key Teaching Points
- Electromagnetic interference between LVAD and ICD may result in an
inability to make a telemetric link for interrogation, or cause an
inappropriate shock, or fail to deliver an appropriate shock.
- ICD should be ideally at least 10 cm away from LVAD device to decrease
the risk of electromagnetic interference.
- Extending patient’s arm above the head (on the ipsilateral side of the
ICD) can increase the distance between LVAD and ICD, which is a
simple, yet effective technique to allow unhindered ICD interrogation
and reprogramming.