Implantable cardiodefibrillators are well established in the treatment of some patients with resistant life threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Key references Demakis JG, Proskey A, Rahimtoola SH, Jamil M, Sutton GC, Rosen KM, et al. The natural course of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. The Task Force of the Working Group on Heart Failure of the European Society of Cardiology. Guidelines on the treatment of heart failure.
Nonpharmacologic therapy improves functional and emotional status in congestive heart failure.
G Jackson is consultant cardiologist in the department of cardiology, Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital, London. The series will be published as a book in the spring.