SYSTEM HAVING A SURROGATE DEFIBRILLATION ELECTRODE FOR TESTING IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATORS DURING IMPLANT

An external surrogate defibrillation electrode is provided that increases the safety of performing implantation testing of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. The surrogate electrode has an electrode pad that is attached to the patient's skin. If the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is not capable of providing a sufficiently high-energy defibrillation shock during the implantation procedure, the surrogate electrode attached to the patient's skin can be electrically connected to the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, thereby allowing the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to effectively apply a rescue shock to the patient.