Should LifeVest Be Worn During Shower: A Case Report

The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD), or LifeVest (ZOLL Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei company, Tokyo, Japan), is designed for continuous monitoring and immediate treatment of patients at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Due to a lack of water resistance and inability to operate safely in wet conditions, current guidelines recommend wearing the device at all times except for short periods, such as during showering. We present the case of an 88-year-old male with complex coronary artery disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and permanent atrial fibrillation who experienced cardiac arrest and ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) during a shower when not wearing his LifeVest. Immediately after he lost consciousness, his wife promptly reattached the LifeVest, which stabilized his condition with a shock delivered by the device. This case highlights potential risks during device-free periods and the limited data on compliance and outcomes in these intervals. Further study is needed to assess risks and explore solutions that allow for the device's removal for short periods and enhance the patient's safety.