Management of ventricular arrhythmias: detection, drugs, and devices

To review evaluation and treatment of patients with ventricular arrhythmias, based on recent studies, with an emphasis on randomized controlled trials.

MEDLINE search of English-language publications of ventricular arrhythmias and their references from 1966 through April 27, 1998. References to articles were also scanned to broaden the search.

Randomized controlled trials and all large nonrandomized trials of arrhythmias and arrhythmia therapy were reviewed. In addition, studies that led to changes in approach to patients with arrhythmias were reviewed.

We reviewed articles jointly for pertinent studies and information.

The goals of treatment of the patient with ventricular arrhythmias are to suppress symptoms and prevent a fatal event. The steps in providing such therapy include defining the cardiac anatomy, assessing arrhythmia risk through noninvasive or invasive testing, and prescribing treatment based on these results. Patients may be separated into high- and low-risk groups to help identify appropriate treatment. While low-risk groups may benefit from reassurance or medications such as beta-blockers or verapamil, high-risk groups have been more difficult to treat. Recent randomized trials of implantable cardioverter defibrillators for ventricular arrhythmias suggest that they may provide better protection for high-risk patients than do antiarrhythmic medications.

Treatment and understanding of risk from ventricular arrhythmias have advanced substantially in recent years. Classifying patients as being at high or low risk for fatal arrhythmias allows the physician to identify appropriate treatments for the high-risk patient without exposing the low-risk patient to unnecessary treatment-related risks.