Subcutaneous Defibrillator Implantation With or Without Defibrillation Test: The Primary Results of the Randomized PRAETORIAN-DFT Trial

R Reinoud E. Knops (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) C Christelle Marquie (Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France (C.M.).) P Peter Nordbeck R Roland R. Tilz (Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, Lübeck, Germany (R.R. Tilz).) L Leonard A. Dijkshoorn (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) A Anne-Floor B.E. Quast (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) T Tom F. Brouwer (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) P Pier D. Lambiase C Christopher J. Cassidy (Department of Cardiology, Lancashire Cardiac Centre, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Blackpool, United Kingdom (C.J.C.).) L Lucas V.A. Boersma (Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam) M Martin C. Burke (CorVita Science Foundation, Chicago, IL (M.C.B.).) T Timothy R. Betts (Department of Cardiology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom (T.R.B.).) V Vincent Probst (Department of Cardiology, L’institut du thorax, CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France (V.P.).) H Harish Manyam (Department of Cardiology, Erlanger Health System, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN (H.M.).) F Frank A.L.E. Bracke (Department of Electrophysiology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands (F.A.L.E.B.).) H Hendrik Bonnemeier J Jürgen Kuschyk (First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany (J.K.).) G Gregory Golovchiner (Department of Cardiology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel (G.G.).) A Anouk de Weger (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) M Marc A. Miller (Department of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY (M.A.M.).) J Jonas S.S.G. de Jong (Department of Cardiology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (J.S.S.G.d.J.).) A Abdul Ghani N Nigel Lewis (Department of Cardiology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom (N.L.).) E Eloi Marijon (Cardiology Department, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris) N Nick R. Bijsterveld (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) P Pascal Defaye C Claire A. Martin (Department of Cardiology, Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.A.M.).) D Duncan C. Field (Cardiology, Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Basildon, United Kingdom (D.C.F.).) J Jan Elders (Department of Cardiology, Canisius Wilhelminahospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (J.E.).) N Naushad A. Shaik (Department of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Advent Health Orlando, Orlando, FL (N.A.S.).) S Serge Boveda W Willeke van der Stuijt (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) J Jolien A. de Veld (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) K Kirsten M. Kooiman (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) S Shari Pepplinkhuizen (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) L Lukas Kaiser (Department of Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany (L.K.).) A Anita Arya (Division of Electrophysiology and Devices, Heart and Lung Centre, New Cross Hospital, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom (A.A.).) R Raymond Tukkie (Department of Cardiology, Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem, the Netherlands (R. Tukkie).) L Léon J.P.M. van Woerkens (Department of Cardiology, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, the Netherlands (L.J.P.M.v.W.).) M Margriet W. Feenema-Aardema (Department of Cardiology, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands (M.W.F.-A.).) M Michael Glikson (Department of Cardiology, Jesselson Integrated Heart Center, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel (M.G.).) A Alexander H. Maass (Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands (A.H.M.).) A Amir Zaidi (Manchester Heart Centre, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (A.Z.).) A Arthur A.M. Wilde (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) L Louise R.A. Olde Nordkamp (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) L Lonneke Smeding (Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).) M Mikhael F. El-Chami (Department of Cardiology, Section of Electrophysiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (M.F.E.-C.).) J J. Vogler M M. van Gent H H. Al Hashimi F F.J. Oosterwerff D DJ. Van Doorn A A.E. Borger van der burg D D. Nemirovsky P P.P.H.M. Delnoy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To improve survival of patients at risk of sudden cardiac death, subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs) require optimal implant positioning for effective shocks. Defibrillation (DF) testing is recommended but carries serious risks. The PRAETORIAN score predicts defibrillation outcomes on the basis of chest X-ray. The PRAETORIAN-DFT (Prospective Randomized Comparative Trial of Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation With and Without Defibrillation Testing) trial evaluated whether omission of DF testing guided by the PRAETORIAN score is noninferior for first-shock efficacy. METHODS: In this multinational trial, S-ICD patients from 37 centers were randomized to DF testing or no DF testing. In the No-DF testing group, the PRAETORIAN score was evaluated before discharge. The primary end point was failed first shock for spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias, as a surrogate for defibrillation success, tested for noninferiority with a 3% absolute risk margin. Secondary end points included mortality, potential DF testing–related complications, and S-ICD revisions. RESULTS: The included 965 patients (No-DF testing, n=483; DF testing, n=482) were followed for a median of 41 months. Failed first shock for spontaneous ventricular arrhythmia occurred in 1.7% of the No-DF testing group versus 2.3% of the DF testing group (–0.6% [95% CI, –2.6 to 1.4], P <0.001). There were no significant differences in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.9 [95% CI, 0.6–1.4]) or arrhythmic death (HR, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.04–3.4]). Potential DF testing–related complications occurred in 1.7% in the DF testing group. Postoperative S-ICD revisions due to inadequate positioning were identical between groups (n=2 each). CONCLUSIONS: PRAETORIAN score–guided omission of DF testing after S-ICD implantation did not increase the risk of failed first shocks for spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias and reduced procedural risk without increasing S-ICD revisions. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03495297.

Article Details

Journal Circulation
Volume / Issue Vol. 154, Issue 6
Published August 11, 2026
Pages 520-531
ISSN 0009-7322
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Circulation

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0009-7322 Health Sciences

Authors (55)

R

Reinoud E. Knops

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

C

Christelle Marquie

Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France (C.M.).

P

Peter Nordbeck

R

Roland R. Tilz

Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, Lübeck, Germany (R.R. Tilz).

L

Leonard A. Dijkshoorn

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

A

Anne-Floor B.E. Quast

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

T

Tom F. Brouwer

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

P

Pier D. Lambiase

C

Christopher J. Cassidy

Department of Cardiology, Lancashire Cardiac Centre, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Blackpool, United Kingdom (C.J.C.).

L

Lucas V.A. Boersma

Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam

M

Martin C. Burke

CorVita Science Foundation, Chicago, IL (M.C.B.).

T

Timothy R. Betts

Department of Cardiology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom (T.R.B.).

V

Vincent Probst

Department of Cardiology, L’institut du thorax, CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France (V.P.).

H

Harish Manyam

Department of Cardiology, Erlanger Health System, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN (H.M.).

F

Frank A.L.E. Bracke

Department of Electrophysiology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands (F.A.L.E.B.).

H

Hendrik Bonnemeier

J

Jürgen Kuschyk

First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany (J.K.).

G

Gregory Golovchiner

Department of Cardiology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel (G.G.).

A

Anouk de Weger

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

M

Marc A. Miller

Department of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY (M.A.M.).

J

Jonas S.S.G. de Jong

Department of Cardiology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (J.S.S.G.d.J.).

A

Abdul Ghani

N

Nigel Lewis

Department of Cardiology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom (N.L.).

E

Eloi Marijon

Cardiology Department, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris

N

Nick R. Bijsterveld

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

P

Pascal Defaye

C

Claire A. Martin

Department of Cardiology, Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.A.M.).

D

Duncan C. Field

Cardiology, Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Basildon, United Kingdom (D.C.F.).

J

Jan Elders

Department of Cardiology, Canisius Wilhelminahospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (J.E.).

N

Naushad A. Shaik

Department of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Advent Health Orlando, Orlando, FL (N.A.S.).

S

Serge Boveda

W

Willeke van der Stuijt

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

J

Jolien A. de Veld

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

K

Kirsten M. Kooiman

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

S

Shari Pepplinkhuizen

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

L

Lukas Kaiser

Department of Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany (L.K.).

A

Anita Arya

Division of Electrophysiology and Devices, Heart and Lung Centre, New Cross Hospital, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom (A.A.).

R

Raymond Tukkie

Department of Cardiology, Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem, the Netherlands (R. Tukkie).

L

Léon J.P.M. van Woerkens

Department of Cardiology, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, the Netherlands (L.J.P.M.v.W.).

M

Margriet W. Feenema-Aardema

Department of Cardiology, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands (M.W.F.-A.).

M

Michael Glikson

Department of Cardiology, Jesselson Integrated Heart Center, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel (M.G.).

A

Alexander H. Maass

Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands (A.H.M.).

A

Amir Zaidi

Manchester Heart Centre, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (A.Z.).

A

Arthur A.M. Wilde

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

L

Louise R.A. Olde Nordkamp

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

L

Lonneke Smeding

Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Heart Failure & Arrhythmias, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.E.K., L.A.D., A.-F.B.E.Q., T.F.B., A.d.W., N.R.B., W.v.d.S., J.A.d.V., K.M.K., S.P., A.A.M.W., L.R.A.O.N., L.S., L.V.A.B.).

M

Mikhael F. El-Chami

Department of Cardiology, Section of Electrophysiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (M.F.E.-C.).

J

J. Vogler

M

M. van Gent

H

H. Al Hashimi

F

F.J. Oosterwerff

D

DJ. Van Doorn

A

A.E. Borger van der burg

D

D. Nemirovsky

P

P.P.H.M. Delnoy