RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Survivors of sudden cardiac death: a rational approach to evaluation and therapy of patients surviving ventricular fibrillation
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 166
OP 172
VO 59
IS 2
A1 Arthur J. Rabinowitz
A1 James D. Maloney
YR 1992
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/59/2/166.abstract
AB Survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest that is not associated with acute myocardial infarction are at high risk for subsequent life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. A rational approach to evaluating the underlying disease processes and to formulating a specific treatment plan for these patients is presented. A protocol is suggested whereby existing cardiac conditions are appropriately treated and hemodynamic parameters are optimized. Myocardial ischemia is minimized with drugs or revascularization; this may suffice to prevent recurrence of sudden cardiac death in a small group of patients. For remaining patients at high risk of recurrence, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is the therapy associated with the lowest rate of mortality.