Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Current status of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in heart failure

  • Published:
Current Heart Failure Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in patients with heart failure (HF). The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is the only evidence-based treatment strategy for patients who have survived a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmic event. Randomized clinical trials have shown that specific subsets of HF patients with ischemic and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy benefit from ICD therapy for primary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiac resynchronization therapy has become the device-based therapy of choice for improving symptoms and survival in severe HF patients with evidence of ventricular dyssynchrony. This review summarizes the current status of ICD therapy in treating HF patients based on randomized clinical trials and current practice guidelines.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Chow AW, Lane RE, Cowie MR: New pacing technologies for heart failure. BMJ 2003, 326:1073–1077.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. American Heart Association, American Stroke Association: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2005 Update. Available at http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1105390918119HDSStats2005Update.pdf. Accessed October 2008.

  3. Uretsky BF, Sheahan RG: Primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in heart failure: will the resolution be shocking? J Am Coll Cardiol 1997, 30:1589–1597.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bayes de Luna A, Coumel P, Leclercq JF: Ambulatory sudden cardiac death: mechanisms of production of fatal arrhythmia on the basis of data from 157 cases. Am Heart J 1989, 117:151–159.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. A comparison of antiarrhythmic-drug therapy with implantable defibrillators in patients resuscitated from near-fatal ventricular arrhythmias. The Antiarrhythmics versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) Investigators. J N Engl J Med 1997, 337:1576–1583.

  6. Connolly SJ, Gent M, Roberts RS, et al.: Canadian implantable defibrillator study (CIDS): a randomized trial of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator against amiodarone. Circulation 2000, 101:1297–1302.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kuck KH, Cappato R, Siebels J, Ruppel R: Randomized comparison of antiarrhythmic drug therapy with implantable defibrillators in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest: the Cardiac Arrest Study Hamburg (CASH). Circulation 2000, 102:748–754.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Moss AJ, Hall WJ, Cannom DS, et al.: Improved survival with an implanted defibrillator in patients with coronary disease at high risk for ventricular arrhythmia. Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial Investigators. N Engl J Med 1996, 335:1933–1940.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bigger JT Jr: Prophylactic use of implanted cardiac defibrillators in patients at high risk for ventricular arrhythmias after coronary-artery bypass graft surgery. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Patch Trial Investigators. N Engl J Med 1997, 337:1569–1575.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Buxton AE, Lee KL, Fisher JD, et al.: A randomized study of the prevention of sudden death in patients with coronary artery disease. Multicenter Unsustained Tachycardia Trial Investigators. N Engl J Med 1999, 341:1882–1890. [Published erratum appears in N Engl J Med 2000, 342:1300.]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Moss AJ, Zareba W, Hall WJ, et al.: Prophylactic implantation of a defibrillator in patients with myocardial infarction and reduced ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 2002, 346:877–883.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hohnloser SH, Kuck KH, Dorian P, et al.: Prophylactic use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator after acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 2004, 351:2481–2488.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kadish A, Dyer A, Daubert JP, et al.: Prophylactic defibrillator implantation in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. N Engl J Med 2004; 350:2151–2158.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bardy GH, Lee KL, Mark DB, et al.: Amiodarone or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for congestive heart failure. N Engl J Med 2005, 352:225–237. [Published erratum appears in N Engl J Med 2005, 352:2146.]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. McAlister FA, Ezekowitz JA, Wiebe N, et al.: Systematic review: cardiac resynchronization in patients with symptomatic heart failure. Ann Intern Med 2004, 141:381–390. [Published erratum appears in Ann Intern Med 2005, 142:311.]

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Cleland JG, Daubert JC, Erdmann E, et al.: The effect of cardiac resynchronization on morbidity and mortality in heart failure. N Engl J Med 2005, 352:1539–1549.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Baum RS, Alvarez H 3rd, Cobb LA: Survival after resuscitation from out-of hospital ventricular fibrillation. Circulation 1974, 50:1231–1235.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Myerburg RJ, Kessler KM, Estes D, et al.: Long-term survival after prehospital cardiac arrest: analysis of outcome during an 8 year study. Circulation 1984, 70:538–546.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Connolly SJ, Hallstrom AP, Cappato R, et al.: Meta-analysis of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator secondary prevention trials. AVID, CASH and CIDS studies. Antiarrhythmics vs Implantable Defibrillator study. Cardiac Arrest Study Hamburg. Canadian Implantable Defibrillator Study. Eur Heart J 2000, 21:2071–2078.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Tamburro P, Wilber D: Sudden death in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Am Heart J 1992, 124:1035–1045.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Bansch D, Antz M, Boczor S, et al.: Primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: the Cardiomyopathy Trial (CAT). Circulation 2002, 105:1453–1458.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Strickberger SA, Hummel JD, Bartlett TG, et al.: Amiodarone versus implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: randomized trial in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and asymptomatic nonsustained ventricular tachycardia—AMIOVIRT. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003, 41:1707–1712.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Coverage decision memorandum for implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Available at http://www.cms.hhs. gov/mcd/viewdecisionmemo.asp?from2=viewdecisionmemo.asp&id=139&. Accessed October 2008.

  24. Makati KJ, Fish AE, England HH, et al.: Equivalent arrhythmic risk in patients recently diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy compared with patients diagnosed for 9 months or more. Heart Rhythm 2006, 3:397–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Knight BP, Goyal R, Pelosi F, et al.: Outcome of patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and unexplained syncope treated with an implantable defibrillator. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999, 33:1964–1970.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Grimm W, Hoffmann JJ, Müller HH, Maisch B: Implantable defibrillator event rates in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia on Holter and a left ventricular ejection fraction below 30%. J Am Coll Cardiol 2002, 39:780–787.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Healey JS, Hallstrom AP, Kuck KH, et al.: Role of implantable defibrillator among elderly patients with a history of life threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Eur Heart J 2007, 28:1746–1749.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Huang DT, Sesselberg HW, McNitt S, et al.: Improved survival associated with prophylactic implantable defibrillators in elderly patients with prior myocardial infarction and depressed ventricular function: a MADIT-II substudy. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2007, 18:833–838.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Boehmer JP: Device therapy for heart failure. Am J Cardiol 2003, 91:53D–59D.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Saba S, Atiga WL, Barrington W, et al.: Selected patients listed for cardiac transplantation may benefit from defibrillator implantation regardless of an established indication. J Heart Lung Transplant 2003, 22:411–418.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Ermis C, Zadeii G, Zhu AX, et al.: Improved survival of cardiac transplantation candidates with implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy: role of beta-blocker or amiodarone treatment. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2003, 14:578–583.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Da Rosa MR, Sapp JL, Howlett JG, et al.: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant 2007, 26:1336–1339.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Maron BJ, Spirito P: Implications of left ventricular remodeling in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol 1998, 81:1339–1344.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Maron BJ, McKenna WJ, Danielson GK, et al.: American College of Cardiology/European Society of Cardiology clinical expert consensus document on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Task Force on Clinical Expert Consensus Documents and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003, 42:1687–1713.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Maron BJ, Shen WK, Link MS, et al.: Efficacy of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators for the prevention of sudden death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. N Engl J Med 2000, 342:365–373.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Maron BJ: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a systematic review. JAMA 2002, 187:1308–1320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Spirito P, Bellone P, Harris KM, et al.: Magnitude of left ventricular hypertrophy predicts the risk of sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. N Engl J Med 2000, 342:1778–1785.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Maron BJ, Spirito P, Shen WK, et al.: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators for prevention of sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. JAMA 2007, 298:405–412. [Published erratum appears in JAMA 2007, 298:1516.]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Monserrat L, Elliott PM, Gimeno JR, et al.: Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: an independent marker of sudden death risk in young patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003, 42:873–879.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Olivotto I, Maron BJ, Montereggi A, et al.: Prognostic value of systemic blood pressure response during exercise in a community-based patient population with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999, 33:2044–2051.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Adabag AS, Casey SA, Kuskowski MA, et al.: Spectrum and prognostic significance of arrhythmias on ambulatory Holter electrocardiogram in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005, 45:697–704.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Ichida F, Hamamichi Y, Miyawaki T, et al.: Clinical features of isolated noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium: long-term clinical course, hemodynamic properties, and genetic background. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999, 34:233–240.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Duru F, Candinas R: Noncompaction of ventricular myocardium and arrhythmias. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2000, 11:491–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Oechslin EN, Attenhofer Jost CH, Rojas JR, et al.: Longterm follow-up of 34 adults with isolated left ventricular noncompaction: a distinct cardiomyopathy with poor prognosis. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000, 36:493–500.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Thiene G, Nava A, Corrado D, et al.: Right ventricular cardiomyopathy and sudden death in young people. N Engl J Med 1988, 318:129–133.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Epstein AE, Dimarco JP, Ellenbogen KA, et al.: ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 Guideline Update for Implantation of Cardiac Pacemakers and Antiarrhythmia Devices) developed in collaboration with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008, 51:e1–e62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Dickstein K, Cohen-Solal A, Filippatos G, et al.: ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2008: the Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure 2008 of the European Society of Cardiology. Developed in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association of the ESC (HFA) and endorsed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM). Eur Heart J 2008, 29:2388–2442.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Executive summary: HFSA 2006 Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline. J Card Fail 2006, 12:10–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Bristow MR, Saxon AL, Boehmer J, et al.: Cardiac-resynchronization therapy with or without an implantable defibrillator in advanced chronic heart failure. N Engl J Med 2004, 350:2140–2150.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Upadhyay GA, Choudhry NK, Auricchio A, et al.: Cardiac resynchronization in patients with atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008, 52:1239–1246.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Khasnis A, Jongnarangsin K, Abela G, et al.: Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy: a review of literature. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2005, 28:710–721.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Germano JJ, Reynolds M, Essebag V, Josephson ME: Frequency and causes of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapies: is device therapy proarrhythmic? Am J Cardiol 2006, 97:1255–1261.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Sola CL, Botswick JM: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, induced anxiety, and quality of life. Mayo Clin Proc 2005, 80:232–237.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Mark DB, Nelson CL, Anstrom KJ, et al.: Cost-effectiveness of defibrillator therapy or amiodarone in chronic stable heart failure: results from the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT). Circulation 2006, 114:135–142.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. O’Brien BJ, Connolly SJ, Goeree R, et al.: Cost-effectiveness of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: results from the Canadian Implantable Defibrillator Study (CIDS). Circulation 2001, 103:1416–1421.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Larsen G, Hallstrom A, McAnulty J, et al.: Cost-effectiveness of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator versus antiarrhythmic drugs in survivors of serious ventricular tachyarrhythmias: results of the Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) economic analysis substudy. Circulation 2002, 105:2049–2057.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, University of Minnesota, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA

    Venkatakrishna N. Tholakanahalli

Authors
  1. Ilknur Can
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Venkatakrishna N. Tholakanahalli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Venkatakrishna N. Tholakanahalli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Can, I., Tholakanahalli, V.N. Current status of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in heart failure. Curr Heart Fail Rep 6, 199–209 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-009-0028-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-009-0028-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation