First experience with the wearable cardioverter defibrillator in the Netherlands.

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has significantly improved survival in patients with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is an alternative to the ICD in patients with a transient ICD indication or those in whom an ICD temporarily cannot be implanted. We describe here the technical details of the WCD and report three patients who were treated with a WCD in an outpatient setting. The WCD allowed the cardiac condition of two patients to improve to such an extent that permanent ICD implantation was deemed unnecessary. This new form of therapy may result in significant cost reduction, avoidance of unnecessary ICD implantation, and increased patient satisfaction.