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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation
16:40

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

Published on: February 28, 2012

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator prevents sudden cardiac death in systemic sclerosis

Pasquale Bernardo1, Maria Letizia Conforti, Silvia Bellando-Randone

  • 1Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

The Journal of Rheumatology
|June 3, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) can prevent sudden cardiac death in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who experience ventricular arrhythmias. This study shows ICDs effectively managed dangerous heart rhythms in SSc patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a poor prognosis.
  • Conduction defects and arrhythmias are common in SSc patients, increasing the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of electrophysiologic studies and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in managing ventricular arrhythmias in SSc patients.
  • To determine if ICD implantation can prevent sudden cardiac death in this high-risk population.

Main Methods:

  • Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) were implanted in 10 patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and confirmed cardiac involvement.
  • Device data was analyzed over a 36-month follow-up period.

Main Results:

  • Three out of 10 patients experienced episodes of ventricular tachycardia during the follow-up period.
  • The implanted ICDs successfully detected and reverted these episodes of ventricular tachycardia via electrical shock delivery.

Conclusions:

  • Implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may be a recommended intervention for patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) presenting with ventricular arrhythmias.
  • ICDs demonstrate potential in preventing sudden cardiac death in SSc patients with significant cardiac involvement and arrhythmias.
Abstract

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