[Treatment of ventricular arrhythmias]

The term ventricular arrhythmia denotes various disorder in the cardiac rhythm--from isolated monomorphic ventricular extrasystoles to ventricular flutter and fibrillation. The choice of therapy of ventricular arrhythmias is primarily based on prognostic aspects. Ventricular tachycardias represent the main cause of sudden cardiac death, which is responsible for more than 60% of all deaths for cardial causes. In the industrially advanced countries the ventricular tachyarrhythmias represent more than 90% of cases based on coronary disease. The prevention of sudden death is directed particularly to prevention and therapy of ischaemic heart disease. The prognostic classification divides ventricular tachycardias into benign, potentially malignant and malignant ones, respectively. The benign arrhythmias do not require therapy. In the malignant (i.e. potentially lethal) ventricular tachyarrhythmias the implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator represents the most efficient treatment. In the largest group of patients with potentially malignant ventricular arrhythmias the present risk-oriented stratification enables a partial identification of persons with markedly increased risk of sudden death. They may be considered for preventive implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator. In some patients the therapeutic effect is reached by application of various therapeutic methods including a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy, which also includes catheterization or surgical ablation of the arrhythmogenic substrate. A corresponding attention should be devoted to the basal cardial disease.