Treatment of Sustained Ventricular Arrhythmias: Which Therapy to Use?
Authors: Francis E. Marchlinski
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1988)

Editorials1 October 1988Treatment of Sustained Ventricular Arrhythmias: Which Therapy to Use?Francis E. Marchlinski, MDFrancis E. Marchlinski, MDAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-109-7-522 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptDuring the last 10 years major advances (1-9) have occurred in pharmacologic, surgical, and electrical therapies for arrhythmias. These advances make each form of therapy an acceptable alternative in many patients with ventricular arrhythmias. Physicians need to know how each form of therapy is instituted and which patients with sustained ventricular arrhythmias are ideally suited for each therapy. In addition, they should understand the benefits, risks, and potential limitations of each therapy to support the patient's participation in the decision making process when more than one treatment option appears appropriate.Although more than one dozen antiarrhythmic agents have been approved...References1. WilberGaranFinkelstein DHD. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Use of electrophysiologic testing in the prediction of long-term outcome. N Engl J Med. 1986;318:19-24. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. WallerKaySpielmanKutalekGreenspanHorowitz THSSAL. Reduction in sudden death and total mortality by antiarrhythmic therapy evaluated by electrophysiologic drug testing: criteria of efficacy in patients with sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1987;10:83-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. KadishBuxtonWaxmanFloresJosephsonMarchlinski AAHBMF. Usefulness of electrophysiologic study to determine the clinical tolerance of arrhythmia recurrences during amiodarone therapy. 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Surgical ablation of ventricular tachycardia: improved results with a map-directed regional approach. Circulation. 1986;73:1239-47. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar23. MarchlinskiBuxtonFlores FAB. The automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator: follow-up and complications. In: El-Sheriff N, Samet P, eds. Cardiac Pacing & Electrophysiology. Orlando, FL: Grune & Stratton; 1988: [In press]. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByLarge Change in Voltage at Phase Reversal Improves Biphasic Defibrillation ThresholdsValue of ventricular electrogram recordings in the diagnosis of arrhythmias precipitating electrical device shock therapyUse of Ambulatory Electrocardiographic (Holter) MonitoringJohn P. DiMarco, MD, PhD, John T. Philbrick, MDComparison of the internal defibrillation thresholds for monophasic and double and single capacitor biphasic waveforms 1 October 1988Volume 109, Issue 7Page: 522-525KeywordsArrhythmiaDecision making Issue Published: 1 October 1988 PDF DownloadLoading ...