Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 16, 2026

Ablation of Ischemic Ventricular Tachycardia Using a Multipolar Catheter and 3-dimensional Mapping System for High-density Electro-anatomical Reconstruction
06:57

Ablation of Ischemic Ventricular Tachycardia Using a Multipolar Catheter and 3-dimensional Mapping System for High-density Electro-anatomical Reconstruction

Published on: January 31, 2019

Drug therapy of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Is there still a role?

L B Mitchell1

  • 1Division of Cardiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Cardiology Clinics
|June 13, 2000
PubMed

Insights

This review clarifies risks for sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) patients. It proposes an algorithm for optimal antiarrhythmic drug therapy, including use with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) pose significant risks, especially when no reversible cause is identified.
  • Defining clear therapeutic goals is crucial for managing these life-threatening arrhythmias.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the risks associated with sustained VT/VF in the absence of reversible causes.
  • To outline proposed therapeutic approaches and summarize evidence for their efficacy.
  • To propose an algorithm for the optimal use of antiarrhythmic drugs in selected VT/VF patients and consider their use in ICD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of risks, therapeutic approaches, and comparative evidence for antiarrhythmic drug therapies.
  • Synthesis of evidence to develop a treatment algorithm.

Main Results:

  • Identification of key risks in patients with sustained VT/VF.
  • Comparison of various therapeutic strategies, including antiarrhythmic drugs.
  • Development of an evidence-based algorithm for primary and ancillary antiarrhythmic drug therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing antiarrhythmic drug therapy requires a clear understanding of risks and evidence-based treatment selection.
  • An algorithm can guide the primary use of antiarrhythmic drugs for selected VT/VF patients.
  • Antiarrhythmic drugs have defined ancillary roles in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

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