Update on cardiac implantable electronic devices: from the injectable loop recorder to the leadless pacemaker, to the subcutaneous defibrillator.

A very fast-paced improvement of technology in the field of cardiac implantable devices has been observed in the last ten years. The aim of this review is to highlight the most important innovations which have been recently introduced in this field, such as the leadless pacemaker (a heart stimulator without intracardiac leads), the subcutaneous defibrillator (a completely extracardiac defibrillator device), the injectable loop recorder (a miniaturized subcutaneous continuous echocardiographic monitor provided by alarms and telephonic transmission) and many other new devices which will completely change the clinical practice in this field over the next decade.