Italy expands defibrillator deployment in hospitals and sports fields

A subcutaneous implantable cardioverter‑defibrillator (S‑ICD) was implanted at the Santa Marta e Santa Venera Hospital in Acireale on a 32‑year‑old patient with severe dilated cardiomyopathy. The device, placed under the skin without intravascular leads, automatically detects life‑threatening arrhythmias and delivers therapy, reducing infection risk.

Separately, the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional authorities, together with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the amateur league body LND, announced an €800,000 investment to map, purchase and install external semi‑automatic defibrillators (DAE) on sports facilities across the region. The initiative follows sudden cardiac deaths of former players and aims to improve emergency response on and off the field.