title: Drug therapy of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Is there still a role?
abstract: This article provides a review of the risks faced by patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in the absence of a reversible or transient cause so that the goals of therapy can be clearly defined. The therapeutic approaches that have been proposed to achieve these goals are outlined and evidence comparing these various approaches to therapy is then summarized in order to propose an algorithm for the optimal use of antiarrhythmic drug therapies as primary therapy for selected VT/VF patients. Options for the ancillary uses of antiarrhythmic drug therapies in ICD patients are considered.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents