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Ventricular Arrhythmias and Defibrillators

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MGH Cardiology Board Review

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Abstract

Ventricular tachyarrhythmias have heterogeneous etiologies, clinical consequences, and treatment strategies. Distinguishing ventricular tachyarrhythmias from supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with aberrancy clinically and on the surface electrocardiogram can be challenging, yet has substantial therapeutic implications. A wide body of randomized clinical trial data has emerged addressing the efficacy of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for the prevention of sudden cardiac death. In this chapter we discuss these issues as well as consensus guideline recommendations for the implantation of ICDs.

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Abbreviations

AAD:

Antiarrhythmic drugs

ACC:

American College of Cardiology

AHA:

American Heart Association

CABG:

Coronary artery bypass grafting

EPS:

Electrophysiology study

HRS:

Heart Rhythm Society

ICD:

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator

LVEF:

Left ventricular ejection fraction

MI:

Myocardial infarction

NSVT:

Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia

NYHA:

New York Heart Association

SVT:

Supraventricular tachycardia

VF:

Ventricular fibrillation

VT:

Ventricular tachycardia

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Steven A. Lubitz MD, MPH (Instructor in Medicine) & Conor D. Barrett MB BCH (Instructor in Medicine)

Authors
  1. Steven A. Lubitz MD, MPH
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  2. Conor D. Barrett MB BCH
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology Division Yawkey Building 5B, Room 5850, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Hanna K. Gaggin

  2. Cardiology Division Yawkey Building, Suite 5984, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    James L. Januzzi, Jr.

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag London

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Lubitz, S.A., Barrett, C.D. (2014). Ventricular Arrhythmias and Defibrillators. In: Gaggin, H., Januzzi, Jr., J. (eds) MGH Cardiology Board Review. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4483-0_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4483-0_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4482-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4483-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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