• composite of: 1) severe intra-operative complications at ICD implant 2) events at follow up [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  

• Severe intra-operative complications or occurring as consequence of defibrillation test; total mortality; survival to ineffective appropriate ICD shocks without resuscitation maneuvers; [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  

The standardized requirements for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) include defibrillation testing (DT), consisting in induction and termination of ventricular fibrillation (VF). An effective DT has historically been considered part of standard procedures at implant. Nevertheless, implant techniques and technology have evolved during years and nowadays deviations are frequent in clinical practice mainly due to the fact that physicians are seriously concerned about the risk of severe complications related to DT. However, the practice of not performing DT is arbitrary and its safety is yet unproven. This observational study will assess the safety of the two strategies adopted at ICD implant: induction (including patients who undergo DT at implant) and non-induction (including patients who do not undergo DT at implant. No deviation from the centres' current practice in choosing to perform or not perform DT is introduced by this study protocol. The study considers consecutive patients undergoing first implant of ICD