Third-generation S-ICDs exhibit an estimated incidence of premature battery depletion of approximately 2% by 3 years, a significant improvement over earlier models.
This report identifies a previously unreported mechanism of apparent premature battery depletion in third-generation S-ICDs caused by charge-count-based longevity estimation failure.
S-ICD generator longevity typically ranges from 5 to 7 years, substantially shorter than the 10–15 years observed with contemporary transvenous ICDs.1 Premature battery depletion (PBD) has emerged as an important device-related issue in first- and second-generation S-ICDs, with incidences of 3% –10% at 5 years.1–4 This phenomenon has been far less frequently described with newer third-generation devices incorporating improved technology, with an estimated incidence of ∼2% by 3 years.5,6 Known mechanisms include true battery failure due to hydrogen-induced low-voltage capacitor compromise, false indicators from incorrect time-stamp-related display errors.
Kerkouri et al. (2026) studied this question. Third-generation S-ICDs exhibit an estimated incidence of premature battery depletion of approximately 2% by 3 years, a significant improvement over earlier models.