Sudden cardiac arrest due to acute ventricular tachyarrhythmiaremains the most common cause of death in developed nationsand accounts for more than 450,000 deaths annually in the UnitedStates.1,2 Most patients who have a sudden cardiac arrest havecoronary artery disease and impaired left ventricular function.1,2Appropriately designed prospective, randomized trials involvingsuch patients after they have had a myocardial infarction havedemonstrated a neutral or harmful effect on survival from theuse of antiarrhythmic drugs.1 In contrast, studies have consistentlydemonstrated a survival benefit from the implantable cardioverter–defibrillator(ICD).1,2,3,4 These conclusions have been reached by means ofrigorous . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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From the Tufts University School of Medicine, New England Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, Boston.
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