Influence of the Implantable Cardioverter/Defibrillator on Sudden Death and Total Mortality in Patients Evaluated for Cardiac Transplantation

Abstract

Sudden death rates were lowest in patients treated with ICDs compared with drug treatment or no antiarrhythmic treatment. However, although ICDs reduced sudden death in selected high-risk patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction, the effect on long-term survival was limited, principally by high nonsudden death rates.