Implantable cardioverter defibrillator - powerful weapon in primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death

Bacgraund/Aim. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is one of the biggest problems of the contemporary medicine. Large studies showed that anti-arrhythmics, including amiodarone, are not effective in prevention of SCD in the patients with cardiac diseases who were on drug treatment. Those patients who received implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) had better survival. The aim of this paper was to determine whether the patients receiving the ICD in the primary and secondary SCD prevention have longer survival than the patients treated exclusively with drug therapy. Methods. We included 1,260 patients with cardiac insufficiency and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 35%) who were at high risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias and SCD. Five hundred forty patients received ICD therapy. The cardiac resynchronization therapy ? CRT/ICD group (n = 270) comprised the patients with cardiac insufficiency and CRT/ICD pacemaker at an optimal medical therapy. In the control group (n = 450), there were the patients with cardiac insufficiency (NYHA functional class 3?4, LVEF ? 35%, QRS duration ? 130 ms), at optimum drug therapy. Results. In the ICD group, there was a statistically significant increase in end-systolic volume (ESV) from 92.68 mL to 99.05 mL. In the group of patients with cardiac insufficiency who were on drug therapy, there was a significant decrease in LVEF (33.15% vs. 30.2%; p = 0.017), 6-minute walk distance (6 MWT distance) (216.55 m vs. 203.27 m, p = 0.003). In the same group, there was an increase in the values of ESV (90.19 mL vs. 95.41 mL; p = 0.011). An increase in the mortality rate in the group of patients with drug therapy compared to the CRT/ICD and ICD groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions. An ICD pacemaker implantation significantly reduces mortality compared to medical therapy only. In addition, the patients who have CRT in addition to ICD pacemaker, have a significantly better quality of life and increase in LVEF.

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A Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Effect of Yoga Therapy on Cardiac Function and N Terminal Pro BNP in Heart Failure

Integrative Medicine Insights ◽

10.4137/imi.s13939 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. IMI.S13939 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Bandi Hari Krishna ◽

Pravati Pal ◽

G. K. Pal ◽

J. Balachander ◽

E. Jayasettiaseelon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Cardiac Function ◽

Medical Therapy ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Control Group ◽

Tei Index ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Yoga Therapy ◽

Standard Medical Therapy

Aims The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether yoga training in addition to standard medical therapy can improve cardiac function and reduce N terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro BNP) in heart failure (HF). Methods 130 patients were recruited and randomized into two groups: Control Group (CG) ( n = 65), Yoga Group (YG). In YG, 44 patients and in CG, 48 patients completed the study. Cardiac function using left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), myocardial performance index (Tei index), and NT pro BNP, a biomarker of HF, was assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Result Improvement in LVEF, Tei index, and NT pro BNP were statistically significant in both the groups. Furthermore, when the changes in before and after 12 weeks were in percentage, LVEF increased 36.88% in the YG and 16.9% in the CG, Tei index was reduced 27.87% in the YG and 2.79% in the CG, NT pro BNP was reduced 63.75% in the YG and 10.77% in the CG. The between group comparisons from pre to post 12 weeks were significant for YG improvements (LVEF, P < 0.01, Tei index, P < 0.01, NT pro BNP, P < 0.01). Conclusion These results indicate that the addition of yoga therapy to standard medical therapy for HF patients has a markedly better effect on cardiac function and reduced myocardial stress measured using NT pro BNP in patients with stable HF.

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Beyond ejection fraction: Novel clinical approaches towards sudden cardiac death risk stratification in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Current Cardiology Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573403x17666210804125939 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

Author(s):

Issa Pour-Ghaz ◽

Mark Heckle ◽

Ikechukwu Ifedili ◽

Sharif Kayali ◽

Christopher Nance ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sudden Cardiac Death ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Risk Stratification ◽

Cardiac Death ◽

Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia ◽

Total Mortality ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Icd Therapy

: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is indicated for patients at risk for sudden cardiac death due to ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The most commonly used risk stratification algorithms use left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to determine which patients qualify for ICD therapy, even though LVEF is a better marker of total mortality than ventricular tachyarrhythmias mortality. This review evaluates imaging tools and novel biomarkers proposed for better risk stratifying arrhythmic substrate, thereby identifying optimal ICD therapy candidates.

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New techniques for risk assessment in sudden cardiac death

ESC CardioMed ◽

10.1093/med/9780198784906.003.0550 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 2327-2330

Author(s):

Juan Fernandez-Armenta ◽

Antonio Berruezo ◽

Juan Acosta ◽

Diego Penela

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Sudden Cardiac Death ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Cardiac Death ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Ventricular Ejection ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Individual Risk ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD) is one of the main objectives of clinical arrhythmology. Despite increased knowledge of the fundamental basis and predictors of SCD, the estimation of individual risk remains challenging. To date, symptomatic heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction are the main variables used to identify patients at high risk of SCD who could potentially benefit from preventive therapies. Beyond left ventricular ejection fraction, new diagnostic tools have been proposed to better stratify patients at risk of SCD. Among them, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, which allows direct visualization of the arrhythmogenic substrate, is considered particularly promising. Genetic testing and serum biomarkers may also have a role in SCD risk assessment.

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