title: [The wearable cardioverter/defibrillator : Temporary protection from sudden cardiac death].
abstract: In the majority of cases sudden cardiac death (SCD) is caused by ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) represent an evidence-based and established method for prevention of SCD. For patients who do not fulfill the criteria for guideline-conform implantation of an ICD but still have an increased, e.g. transient risk for SCD, a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) vest was developed to temporarily prevent SCD. Numerous studies have shown the safety and efficacy of the WCD, although there is still a gap in evidence concerning a reduction in overall mortality and improvement in prognosis. This article gives an overview on the currently available literature on WCD, the indications, potential risks and complications.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland. duncker.david@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duncker
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauersachs
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veltmann
mesh_terms: D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D047548:Defibrillators / Q000639:trends*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cardiomyopathy; Mortality; Risk stratification; Tachycardia, ventricular; Ventricular fibrillation