[Treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator system].
5 patients (3 with coronary artery disease and chronic myocardial infarction, 2 with dilatative cardiomyopathy) with a mean age of 59 years (range 54-69 years) with drug refractory ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation received the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD). Intraoperative testing revealed a mean defibrillation threshold of 13 +/- 2.7 Joule. Over a mean follow-up period of 15.2 months (range 3-25 months) the patients received a total of 117 discharges. 15% of the delivered shocks were recorded during continuous ECG monitoring, 13% were associated with palpitations and 27% were discharged during syncope. 45% of shocks occurred in the absence of symptoms. No patient died suddenly. 1 patient died of intractable heart failure, 1 patient died of septic shock. In carefully selected patients the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator is an effective tool in the treatment of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Modifications of the device to incorporate programmability of the cut-off rate, the sensing criteria and the levels of shock energy, as well as the options for different pacing modes combined with memory functions are needed to improve antiarrhythmic strategies.
Frohner
K
K
3. Medizinische Abteilung, Ludwig Boltzmann-Institut für Arrhythmieforschung, Wilhelminenspital, Wien.
Kaltenbrunner
W
W
Laufer
G
G
Laczkovics
A
A
Wolner
E
E
Steinbach
K
K
D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000628:therapy*
Behandlung ventrikulärer Tachyarrhythmien mit einem implantierbaren Kardioverter-Defibrillatorsystem.