Prevention and Control of Ventricular Arrhythmias

IN the current issue of the Journal, Mirowski et al. describe an implantable automatic defibrillator that the patient may use to convert his own ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Although considerable additional work is needed to perfect the diagnostic and therapeutic capability of this device, it is a potentially important therapeutic contribution that allows the conversion of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients in whom adequate control is not provided by antiarrhythmic agents. Viewed optimistically, this is yet another in an impressive series of contributions toward progress in the monitoring and identification of important ventricular arrhythmias and in their pharmacologic and electrical correction.1 2 3 4 However, . . .