Interv Akut Kardiol. 2007;6(2):65-69

CURRENT INDICATIONS FOR THE IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATOR THERAPY IN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND CHRONIC HEART FAILURE: GUIDELINES AND CLINICAL PRACTICE

Jan Bytešník

Klinika kardiologie, Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny, Praha

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is accepted as the most reliable treatment to improve the prognosis of patients with higher risk of sudden cardiac death. It is fully accepted as a secondary preventive indication in patients with documented sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia in structural heart disease. The results of several randomised prospective studies also had an impact on the extension of the so-called primary preventive indications for this type of therapy. In patients with severe chronic heart failure and ventricular dyssynchrony, the combination of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronisation therapy proves successful. This configuration was implemented in one third of all initial implantations in the Czech Republic in 2006. The present article emphasises some differences between Czech and European or American guidelines in coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure patients.

Keywords: implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, sudden death, ventricular tachycardia

Published: June 1, 2007  Show citation