Implantable cardioverter defibrillator in MC Ljubljana. An overview from 1989–2005

Abstract

Abstract: It is now a scientifically proven fact that implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is the therapy of first choice for patients at high risk of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. A significant contribution to the accelerating acceptance of ICD therapy comes from the technological advances, which have reduced the morbidity and enhanced programming and diagnostics very similar to pacemaker therapy. In Medical Centre Ljubljana ICDs have been implanted since 1989, altogether 207 pieces in 153 patients. We evaluated the indications, pacing mode, ejection fraction, number of shocks and the concomitant pharmacological treatment.

Keywords

• implantable defibrillator
• ventricular fibrillation
• ventricular tachycardia