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A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation
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A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation

Published on: February 28, 2012

Approach to antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with ICDs and frequent activations

Arnold Pinter1, Paul Dorian

  • 1Division of Cardiology, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada.

Current Cardiology Reports
|August 18, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Antiarrhythmic drugs like amiodarone with beta-blockers can reduce implantable defibrillator shocks. Other drugs such as sotalol and azimilide are also effective for managing defibrillator therapies and electrical storm.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Patients with implantable defibrillators (ICDs) may need antiarrhythmic drugs to decrease device therapies, particularly shocks.
  • Electrical storm affects 20% of ICD patients, necessitating complex management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence on antiarrhythmic drug therapy for reducing ICD therapies.
  • To identify effective treatments for managing electrical storm in ICD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of new evidence on antiarrhythmic drug efficacy.
  • Analysis of treatment strategies for electrical storm.

Main Results:

  • Amiodarone combined with beta-blockade is the most effective treatment for reducing ICD therapies.
  • Sotalol and azimilide have also demonstrated effectiveness in reducing defibrillator therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Combination therapy with amiodarone and beta-blockers offers optimal reduction in ICD shocks.
  • Effective management of electrical storm requires a comprehensive patient approach.

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