Sudden Cardiac DeathSUSTAIN S-ICDNCT06771700
S-ICD Implantation: US Based Pilot Study
A study testing Intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score in people with Sudden Cardiac Death, run by Universitätsklinikum Köln at 2 sites in Germany.
Trial summary
This trial investigates two key aspects of the S-ICD implantation process. 1) For S-ICD implantation a pre-operative x-ray-based assessment of the anatomy and location of the heart is required. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Sudden Cardiac Death
- What is being tested?
- Intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesGermany
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2025to 1 Nov 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- consecutive patients presenting for S-ICD implantation at our institution
Who cannot join
- patients unable to consent.
- pregnancy
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Germany2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Not yet recruiting
University Hospital Cologne
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, 50937
Jakob Luker, MD, +4947832396, jakob.lueker@uk-koeln.de
- Recruiting
University Hospital Cologne
Cologne, 50823
Jakob Luker, MD, +4947832396, jakob.luker@uk-koeln.de
Jonas Worman, MD, jones.worman@uk-koeln.de
About this study
Official title: Feasibility of an Intra-operative and Non-fluoroscopic Subcutaneous ICD Positioning and Assessment of the PRAETORIAN Score During Implantation: a Pilot Study
This trial investigates two key aspects of the S-ICD implantation process. 1) For S-ICD implantation a pre-operative x-ray-based assessment of the anatomy and location of the heart is required. This study seeks to investigate the feasibility of US to potentially replace the need for x-ray 2) The PRAETORIAN score predicts defibrillation test success in subcutaneous ICD implantation but can only be calculated after the procedure. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of US determining the PRAETORIAN score intraoperatively. Lead-to-sternum distance and generator position measurments during the implantation procedure will be evaluated. Twenty consecutive patients scheduled for S-ICD implantation will be enrolled. The study involves no deviation from standard implantation procedures and requires no follow-up beyond standard post-operative chest X-ray on day one.
Read the detailed description
This trial investigates two key aspects of S-ICD implantation. 1) To achieve successful shock conversion of an arrhythmia with the S-ICD, the optimal position of the electrode and the device are paramount. A pre-operative x-ray-based assessment of the anatomy and location of the heart is required. Using a dummy electrode and device placed on the patient's chest, the desired position is determined through fluoroscopy, and it is marked on the patient's skin. In this trial US will be used to determine the ideal lead and device position. As the current standard, the X-ray method will then confirm ideal positioning before the device is implanted.
- The PRAETORIAN score is an established tool to predict defibrillation test success in subcutaneous ICD implantation but can only be calculated post-procedure using chest X-ray. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of determining the PRAETORIAN score intra-operatively. This pilot study will assess whether lead-to-sternum distance and generator position can be accurately measured during the implantation procedure by manual measurements with non-fluoroscopic means. This would potentially allow risk stratification before intra-operative defibrillation testing. Ten consecutive patients scheduled for S-ICD implantation will be enrolled. The study involves no deviation from standard implantation procedures and requires no follow-up beyond standard post-operative chest X-ray on day one. If successful, this approach could improve implantation safety by identifying high-risk patients before defibrillation testing.
- Conditions
- Sudden Cardiac Death
- Being tested
- Intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score
- Keywords
- S-ICD, Defibrillator
- Medical subject headings
- Death, Sudden, Cardiac
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Intraoperative PRAETORIAN ScoreDiagnostic test
The intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score is calculated based on the additional measurements.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| S-ICD Implantation | Experimental | Patients are implanted with an S-ICD according to standard clinical practice. 1) The ideal lead and device position are determined using the new US method. Any deviation by more than 0.5 cm is counted as a significant deviation. 2) The intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score is calculated based on additional intraoperative measurements. Receives: Diagnostic Test: Intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
PRAETORIAN
The intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score is correlated with the regular PRAETORIAN Score
Measured: 1 day after the device implantation, when chest x-ray is available
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Jan 2025
- Study start1 Mar 2025
- Primary completion30 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Nov 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sudden Cardiac DeathStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- This is a pilot study. Patients are treated according to clinical standard. There are additional measurements made in the process but the study protocol does NOT include any deviation from the clinical standard practice.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universitätsklinikum Köln
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06771700
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UKK2025_SICDImplant
- Acronym
- SUSTAIN S-ICD
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 7 Jan 2025
- Last updated
- 9 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: This is a pilot study with potential proprietary data
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Feasibility of an Intra-operative and Non-fluoroscopic Subcutaneous ICD Positioning and Assessment of the PRAETORIAN Score During Implantation: a Pilot Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06771700
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SUSTAIN S-ICD / UKK2025_SICDImplant
- Conditions
- Sudden Cardiac Death
- Keywords
- S-ICD, Defibrillator
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Universitätsklinikum KölnUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Nov 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This trial investigates two key aspects of the S-ICD implantation process. 1) For S-ICD implantation a pre-operative x-ray-based assessment of the anatomy and location of the heart is required. This study seeks to investigate the feasibility of US to potentially replace the need for x-ray 2) The PRAETORIAN score predicts defibrillation test success in subcutaneous ICD implantation but can only be calculated after the procedure. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of US determining the PRAETORIAN score intraoperatively. Lead-to-sternum distance and generator position measurments during the implantation procedure will be evaluated. Twenty consecutive patients scheduled for S-ICD implantation will be enrolled. The study involves no deviation from standard implantation procedures and requires no follow-up beyond standard post-operative chest X-ray on day one.
Detailed description
This trial investigates two key aspects of S-ICD implantation. 1) To achieve successful shock conversion of an arrhythmia with the S-ICD, the optimal position of the electrode and the device are paramount. A pre-operative x-ray-based assessment of the anatomy and location of the heart is required. Using a dummy electrode and device placed on the patient's chest, the desired position is determined through fluoroscopy, and it is marked on the patient's skin. In this trial US will be used to determine the ideal lead and device position. As the current standard, the X-ray method will then confirm ideal positioning before the device is implanted.
- The PRAETORIAN score is an established tool to predict defibrillation test success in subcutaneous ICD implantation but can only be calculated post-procedure using chest X-ray. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of determining the PRAETORIAN score intra-operatively. This pilot study will assess whether lead-to-sternum distance and generator position can be accurately measured during the implantation procedure by manual measurements with non-fluoroscopic means. This would potentially allow risk stratification before intra-operative defibrillation testing. Ten consecutive patients scheduled for S-ICD implantation will be enrolled. The study involves no deviation from standard implantation procedures and requires no follow-up beyond standard post-operative chest X-ray on day one. If successful, this approach could improve implantation safety by identifying high-risk patients before defibrillation testing.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- This is a pilot study. Patients are treated according to clinical standard. There are additional measurements made in the process but the study protocol does NOT include any deviation from the clinical standard practice.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| S-ICD Implantation | Experimental | Diagnostic Test: Intraoperative PRAETORIAN ScorePatients are implanted with an S-ICD according to standard clinical practice. 1) The ideal lead and device position are determined using the new US method. Any deviation by more than 0.5 cm is counted as a significant deviation. 2) The intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score is calculated based on additional intraoperative measurements. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- consecutive patients presenting for S-ICD implantation at our institution
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- patients unable to consent.
- pregnancy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Intraoperative PRAETORIAN ScoreThe intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score is calculated based on the additional measurements. | Diagnostic test | S-ICD Implantation |
Primary outcome
PRAETORIAN
Time frame: 1 day after the device implantation, when chest x-ray is available
The intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score is correlated with the regular PRAETORIAN Score
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Jul 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. This is a pilot study with potential proprietary data
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Intraoperative PRAETORIAN Score in people with Sudden Cardiac Death, run by Universitätsklinikum Köln at 2 sites in Germany.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jakob Luker, MD (+4947832396, jakob.luker@uk-koeln.de), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
PRAETORIAN (time frame: 1 day after the device implantation, when chest x-ray is available). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 9 Jul 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 27 Oct 2026.