ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We evaluated the number of appropriate and inappropriate therapies for ventricular tachyarrhythmias and trigger mechanisms in 55 MADIT II (MII)-like (group 1) and 86 SCD-HeFT-like (group 2) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed 399 appropriate episodes in 31 patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) implanted according to the MII trial indications, and 502 appropriate episodes in 47 patients matching the SCD-HeFT trial criteria (mean follow-up in both groups = 33 +/- 19 months). In group 1, 39 treated episodes were inappropriate (9% of all episodes), while in group 2, 76 episodes were treated inappropriately (15% of all episodes). At least one episode of inappropriate ICD therapy was recorded in 18% of patients in group 1 (n = 10) and in 22% of patients in group 2 (n = 19). CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the implantation of ICD as primary prevention in patients who are at risk of sudden cardiac death, although the proportion of inappropriate ICD interventions remains high.
