title: [Catheter ablation--when possible, whether effective? When implantable cardioverter defibrillator?].
abstract: There are important gender differences in cardiac electrophysiology that may affect effectiveness of cardiac arrhythmias invasive treatment. Women present to catheter ablation later, with more symptoms, and after having failed more antiarrhythmic drugs. Catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardias and atrial fibrillation (AF), except for long lasting AF, appears equally effective in the two genders. However, female gender predicted a higher risk of complications, with vascular access complications being the most frequent events. The role of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) in women with heart failure for the primary prevention of sudden cardiac death has not been well established. Women are underrepresented in primary prevention implantable ICD trials, and data on the benefit of ICD therapy in this subgroup are controversial. Further studies are needed to define the population of women who may benefit most from ICD therapy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trusz-Gluza
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011322:Primary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D062666:Vascular Access Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D016387:Women's Health