[Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator(ICD)].
Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator(ICD) has been accepted as an effective therapy for the patients with life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias in our country. Especially, down sizing and further development(e.g. atrial sensing/pacing) of ICD generator allows us to consider the indication of the device in the majority of VT/VF patients. Furthermore, not only secondary prevention trials but also primary prevention trials, comparing ICD with the antiarrhythmic agents(mainly amiodarone), demonstrate a superior efficacy of ICD to improve the patients mortality. Under these circumstances, we have to recognize the strong current toward the ICD at the present time. However, an essential problem of ICD therapy, not to prevent VT/VF recurrence, remains to be resolved.
Kurita
Takashi
T
Division of Cardiology, National Cardiovascular Center.
D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy