title: Approach to antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with ICDs and frequent activations.
abstract: Patients with an implantable defibrillator may require concomitant antiarrhythmic drug therapy to reduce therapy from the device, especially shocks from the device. New evidence suggests that amiodarone, in combination with b-blockade, is the most effective treatment to reduce the frequency of defibrillator therapies, but sotalol and azimilide have also been shown to be effective. Electrical storm is a serious condition that occurs in 20% of patients living with a defibrillator, and its management requires a complex approach to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada.
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinter
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorian
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004554:Electric Countershock; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents