Cardioverter defibrillator therapy as a bridge to heart transplantation.

Abstract

The prognosis of patients with severely impaired left ventricular function is poor, with an annual mortality rate of about 50%, and the majority die from sudden cardiac death. Heart transplantation is an accepted therapy for patients with end-stage heart disease; however, about 30% of candidates for transplantation die from sudden cardiac death while on the waiting list. It has been shown that implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy has a low surgical mortality and is highly effective in the prevention of sudden death. Therefore, prophylactic ICD implantation may prevent sudden death in patients with end-stage heart disease while on the waiting list, and it is highly probable that patients with an ICD have a greater chance of survival until a donor heart becomes available. However, this hypothesis still has to be proven by prospective studies.

• Authors: H J Trappe, P Wenzlaff
• Journal: Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE (Pacing Clin Electrophysiol) Vol. 18 Issue 3 Pt 2 Pg. 622-31 (Mar 1995) ISSN: 0147-8389 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7777427 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Coronary Disease (mortality, surgery, therapy)
• Death, Sudden, Cardiac (prevention & control)
• Defibrillators, Implantable
• Female
• Heart Failure (mortality, surgery, therapy)
• Heart Transplantation
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Survival Rate