Sudden death is a major cause of mortality in patients with ventricular dysfunction. The highest risk occurs among patients with less severe functional impairment. Current methods of risk stratification are inadequate, and a rational therapy for prevention of sudden death is not available. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has proven to be more effective than drugs in reducing sudden-death risk in some subsets of patients. Empiric ICD therapy, targeting the general population with mild to moderate heart failure, will maximize the impact of such a strategy to prevent sudden death and improve long-term survival.
Publication information
Salukhe TV, Briceno NI, Ferenczi EA, Sutton R, Francis DP. Is there benefit in implanting defibrillators in patients with severe heart failure?Heart. 2010 Apr;96(8):599-603.