Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators - specific method of preventing of sudden cardiac death: development and standardization
The article is devoted to the method of preventing sudden cardiac death by the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. The paper studies one of the most important problems of the method - the problem of high-voltage electric discharges, known as the problem of ICD shocks. The latter significantly reduce the quality of life of patients, lead to an increase in the number of hospitalizations, risk of death from cardiac and all causes, and also increase the total annual costs of treatment. In recent years device manufacturers and the medical community have taken number of measures aimed at resolving the problem of ICD shocks. An assessment was made of the need for electrical discharges and the causes of erroneous device triggering were studied, when the shock could be provoked by some reason unrelated to life-threatening arrhythmia. Based on the results of these studies, the devices were technically upgraded, their programming standards developed, and an integrated approach was developed in the management of patients with ICD, which significantly increased the effectiveness and safety of these devices in patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death.