Prevention of Sudden Arrhythmic Death with Implanted Automatic Defibrillators
Authors: M. MIROWSKI
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1982)

Editorials1 October 1982Prevention of Sudden Arrhythmic Death with Implanted Automatic DefibrillatorsM. MIROWSKI, M.D.M. MIROWSKI, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-97-4-606 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptVentricular fibrillation and many ventricular tachycardias are medical emergencies needing immediate application of electrical countershock to prevent brain damage and death. Because the treatment involves trained personnel and specialized equipment, successful resuscitation from these arrhythmias is largely limited to coronary care units and other hospital facilities. It is estimated that ventricular tachyarrhythmias claim the lives of some 450 000 persons annually in the United States alone (1), an increasing number of whom can be identified prospectively as being at high risk for sudden arrhythmic death (2-8).The strategies for dealing with malignant ventricular rhythms outside of hospitals have been centered...References1. LOWN A. Cardiovascular collapse and sudden cardiac death. In: BRAUNWALD E, ed. Heart Disease. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company. 1980:778-817. Google Scholar2. BAUMALVAREZCOBB RHL. Survival after resuscitation from out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Circulation. 1974;50:1231-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. LIBERTHSONNAGELHIRSCHMANNUSSENFELD REJS. Prehospital ventricular defibrillation: prognosis and follow-up course. N Engl J Med. 1974;291:317-21. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. SCHULZESTRAUSSPITT RHB. 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Termination of malignant ventricular arrhythmias with an implanted automatic defibrillator in human beings. N Engl J Med. 1980;303:322-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. MIROWSKIMOWERSTAEWENTABATZNIKMENDELOFF MMWBA. Standby automatic defibrillator: an approach to prevention of sudden coronary death. Arch Intern Med. 1970;126:158-61. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. SCHUDERSTOECKLEGOLDWESTKESKAR JHJJP. Experimental ventricular defibrillation with an automatic and completely implanted system. Trans Am Soc Artif Intern Organs. 1970;16:207-11. MedlineGoogle Scholar12. MIROWSKIMOWERLANGERHEILMANSCHREIBMAN MMAMJ. A chronically implanted system for automatic defibrillation in active conscious dogs: experimental model for treatment of sudden death from ventricular fibrillation. Circulation. 1978;58:90-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. MIROWSKIMOWERBHAGAVAN MMB. Chronic animal and bench testing of the implantable automatic defibrillator. In: MEERE C, ed. Proceedings of the Sixth World Symposium on Cardiac Pacing. Montreal: Pacesymp; 1979. Google Scholar14. MIROWSKIREIDWATKINSWEISFELDTMOWER MPLMM. Clinical treatment of life-threatening tachyarrhythmias with the automatic implantable defibrillator. Am Heart J 1981;102:265-70. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. MIROWSKIREIDMOWERWATKINS MPML. Successful conversion of out-of-hospital life-threatening arrhythmias with the implanted automatic defibrillator. Am Heart J. 1982;103:147-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar16. WATKINSMIROWSKIMOWER LMM. Automatic defibrillation in man: the initial surgical experience. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1981;82:492-500. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar17. WATKINSMIROWSKIMOWER LMM. Implantation of the automatic defibrillator: the sub-xiphoid approach. Ann Thorac Surg. (In press). Google Scholar18. MIROWSKIREIDMOWERGRIFFITHWATKINS MPMSL. Successful conversion of out-of-hospital life-threatening arrhythmias with the implanted automatic defibrillator [Abstract]. Am J Cardiol. 1982;49:1022. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Sinai Hospital of Baltimore The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Baltimore, Maryland PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byFrank Pantridge and mobile coronary careImplantable cardioverter-defibrillators are preferable to drugs as primary therapy in sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmiasThe impact of implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy on health care systemsGross and Microscopic Changes Associated with a Nonthoracotomy Implantable Cardioverter DefibrillatorThe amiodarone--class I agent combination increases refractoriness, conduction, and the number of electrophysiologic studies. 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ELSON, M.D., Ph.D.Nonpharmacologic treatment of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmiasPathologic findings related to the lead system and repeated defibrillations in patients with the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillatorDetection of Ventricular Tachycardia and Fibrillation Using ECG Processing and Intramyocardial Pressure Gradients.Strategies for the Management of Tachyarrhythmias.Recent Clinical Experience with the Automatic Implantable Cardioverter-DefibrillatorProspective reimbursement for state-of-the-art medical practice: The case for invasive electrophysiologic evaluationCLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATORPresent Status of Clinical Electrophysiologic Studies: Introduction-What Studies Are NecessaryInvasive cardiac electrophysiologic testing: the current state of the art.Recent advances in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillationTreatment of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias with Implantable Automatic Cardioverter-Defibrillator 1 October 1982Volume 97, Issue 4Page: 606-608KeywordsArrhythmiaBrain damageCardiac care unitResuscitationTachycardiaVentricular fibrillationVentricular tachycardia Issue Published: 1 October 1982 PDF downloadLoading ...