[Prevention of sudden death in patients awaiting heart transplantation]. / Prevención de muerte súbita en pacientes en espera de trasplante cardíaco.

Sudden death, unexpectedly alters outcome in many patients awaiting heart transplantation. The prevention of sudden death in these patients has been the focus of intensive research to achieve a larger number of patients who finally receive transplants. Recent advances in the medical treatment of heart failure, have reduced mortality and in particular, that caused by sudden death. Nonetheless sudden death remains a frequent cause of mortality in patients awaiting cardiac transplantation. The recognition of patients at very high risk for sudden death is relatively easy, but most patients who suffer sudden death while awaiting cardiac transplantation, are not among those initially included in the overall high risk category. The betablockers, when patients are able to use them, can reduce sudden and total mortality. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs should not be used in patients with cardiac failure. Amiodarone does not increase mortality and may have a beneficial effect in some patients, but its efficacy is lower than that of the implantable defibrillator and its widespread use is not justified. The implantable defibrilator is the reference treatment to reduce sudden death in selected patients, awaiting transplantation.

[The clinical practice guidelines of the Sociedad Española de Cardiología on the automatic implantable defibrillator]. / Guías de práctica clínica de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología sobre el desfibrilador automático implantable.

Since the first implantation in man in 1980 implantable cardioverter defibrillator technology has greatly improved and the number of devices implanted has increased considerably every year. Non thoracotomy lead systems and biphasic shocks are now the approach of choice, offering an almost 100% success rate. This document reviews the recommendations for qualification of personnel and for the centres implanting and carrying out follow-ups on defibrillators. The current indications for the implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillator are also addressed.

[Electrical cardioversion and thrombogenesis. Apropos a case]. / Cardioversión eléctrica y trombogénesis. A propósito de un caso.

We report a case of a 73-years-old patient with atrial fibrillation who underwent direct current cardioversion. The transesophageal echocardiography performed before cardioversion excluded the presence of atrial thrombus. After cardioversion a new transesophageal echocardiography detected a thrombus in the left atrial appendage despite oral anticoagulation. Mechanism of thrombus formation and the need for oral anticoagulation before the procedure is being discussed.