About 20 years ago the first patient received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), and since then the number of implants have increased dramatically. The ICD can terminate ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Studies of secondary prophylaxis show that ICD treatment can improve the prognosis of patients who have survived cardiac arrest. Prophylactic ICD treatment in patients who have not had cardiac arrest is only recommended for selected groups. Patients with poor left ventricular function seem to benefit the most and ongoing trials should elucidate the possible benefit from prophylactic ICD treatment in heart failure patients. The purpose of this article is to describe the development in ICD treatment and give a survey of the present indications for ICD treatment.
Udgivelsesdato: 2003-Jun-16