title: Defibrillator implantation for the primary prevention of sudden death in patients awaiting cardiac transplantation: one center's experience.
abstract: Patients who are on a waiting list for cardiac transplantation often have a clinical profile that satisfies current recommendations for the implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for the primary prevention of sudden death. The prospect that transplantation may take place within the short-to-medium term puts the effectiveness of this therapy in doubt. We investigated the incidence of therapy delivered by implantable cardioverter-defibrillators implanted for primary prevention in patients awaiting cardiac transplantation. Recent changes in the incidence of sudden death at our center were also investigated. Data on 308 patients listed for heart transplantation between 1998 and 2008 were reviewed. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was indicated for primary prevention at initial evaluation in 17 patients. Of these, 53% received appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy while carrying an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for a mean period of 7.8 months (±4.8). Only one patient received inappropriate therapy and none had any complications associated with device use. The frequency of sudden death has decreased over the course of recent years.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España. teresabastante@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bastante Valiente
authors.forename: María J Ruiz
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: María López
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arribas
authors.forename: Miguel A Gómez
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cortina
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sáenz de la Calzada
mesh_terms: D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014850:Waiting Lists