Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy carries inherent risks including infection and unnecessary shocks, necessitating a critical reappraisal of evidence to ensure balanced patient dialogue.
Does implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy provide a balanced benefit-risk profile for the prevention of sudden cardiac death?
A critical reappraisal of ICD therapy highlights the need to balance the prevention of sudden cardiac death against inherent risks like infection, inappropriate shocks, and device malfunction to facilitate informed patient dialogue.
The indications for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) for the prevention of sudden cardiac death have rapidly expanded over the past 10 years. Clinical trial data have quickly been implemented into guidelines without critical reassessment of the strengths and limitations of the evidence. ICD therapy has inherent risks including infection, unnecessary shocks, potential for proarrhythmia, device malfunction, highly publicized manufacturer advisories, and procedural complications, which can adversely affect morbidity and quality of life. A reappraisal of the benefits and potential hazards of ICD therapy will enable physicians to a have a more mutually informed and balanced dialogue with their patients.
Tung et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Sudden cardiac death. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) was evaluated. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy carries inherent risks including infection and unnecessary shocks, necessitating a critical reappraisal of evidence to ensure balanced patient dialogue.