[Protection from sudden cardiac death using a new extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator device: a literature review and a case series from a high-volume single center].

The extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD, Aurora, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) has recently been validated as a new device for preventing arrhythmic death with the aim of reducing vascular and mechanical complications of transvenous ICDs and overcoming the limitations of subcutaneous ICDs. A dedicated learning program is required and, in addition to the electrophysiologist, the implantation procedure must be performed with the assistance of an anesthesiologist for general anesthesia induction and, especially in the early stages of training, a cardiothoracic surgeon for assistance during access to the retrosternal space where the lead should be placed. The objective of this case series is to describe the experience at our high-volume hospital where we treated the first 10 patients with the Aurora EV-ICD device over a period of 8 months.