Use of programmed stimulation in identifying patients at high risk for sudden cardiac death.

Sudden cardiac death accounts for 60% of the total cardiovascular mortality in the United States. Individuals after myocardial infarction or with chronic left ventricular dysfunction are known to be at increased risk. Noninvasive studies have been applied to these populations, but the predictive accuracy of these tests is low. Investigators have used programmed stimulation attempting to identify patients at increased risk and guide their treatment. The prognostic utility of programmed ventricular stimulation for prediction of sudden cardiac death in these populations is reviewed.