title: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
abstract: The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) is the most effective treatment for patients with life-threatening ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association class I, IIa, and III indications for an AICD are discussed. Patients with AICDs should be treated with biventricular pacing, not with dual-chamber rate-responsive pacing at a rate of 70/minute. Patients with AICDs should be treated with beta blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. wsaronow@aol.com
authors.forename: Wilbert S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Aronow
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors