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Jeff Healey, MD, on SIMPLE trial results

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SAN FRANCISCO — In this video, Jeff Healey, MD, FRCPC, associate professor of medicine at the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University, discusses the results of the SIMPLE trial, presented at the Heart Rhythm Society Annual Scientific Sessions.

The trial assessed 2,500 patients with implantable defibrillators who were randomly assigned to either undergo threshold testing of their defibrillator at implantation or no threshold testing, to determine whether testing yielded significant benefits. The primary outcome of the study was failed appropriate shock or sudden arrhythmic death.

After 3.1 years of follow-up, researchers observed that ICD implantation without testing was noninferior to implantation with testing, with no difference in all-cause mortality and a trend toward reduction in the incidence of mortality and failed shocks.

Healey concluded that the trial has important implications for patients who undergo ICD implantation, and that the results support the idea that ICD implantation without testing should be the default strategy for patients receiving their first implant on the left side.