Radiotherapy for patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices: an 11-year experience

As cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are increasingly indicated in older patients, and the burden of cancer is rising with the aging population, the management of patients with CIEDs who require radiotherapy (RT) is a timely concern. The objective of the study was to evaluate the management of, and malfunctions in, patients with CIEDs undergoing RT. A retrospective study of patients with CIEDs receiving RT at Kingston Health Sciences Center from March 2007–April 2018 was conducted. Data on demographics, RT, devices, and management were compared for the primary outcome of device malfunction. Of the 189 patients with CIEDs receiving a total of 297 courses of RT, 4 patients (2.1%) experienced device malfunctions. Higher beam energy was associated with a malfunction (p