Related Experiment Videos
[An automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. The initial clinical experience]
Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|August 28, 1987
Summary
An automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) effectively manages drug-resistant ventricular arrhythmias. This life-saving device successfully terminated tachyarrhythmias in patients with heart disease, preventing sudden cardiac death.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Context:
- Treatment-resistant malignant ventricular arrhythmias pose a significant risk.
- Conventional antiarrhythmia drug therapy is often insufficient.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) in patients with refractory ventricular arrhythmias.
Summary:
- An AICD was implanted in 12 patients with severe heart conditions and life-threatening arrhythmias.
- The device successfully terminated 21 induced and 105 spontaneous tachyarrhythmias with a mean conversion threshold of 9.6 Joules.
- One case of electrode infection was the only serious complication; no device malfunctions or arrhythmia-related deaths occurred during a mean follow-up of 13.6 months.
Impact:
- The AICD offers a viable and effective therapeutic option for patients with intractable ventricular arrhythmias.
- This technology has the potential to reduce mortality associated with sudden cardiac death.