Treatment of ventricular arrhythmias in the coronary patient: what sort of patient? For which rhythm disorder? With which procedure?

In the patient with coronary artery disease, complex ventricular arrhythmias and frequent ventricular arrhythmias appear to be independent risk factors for subsequent death, particularly in patients who have had myocardial infarction. In patients with symptomatic arrhythmias, treatment must be instituted and tested during rigorous supervision of the patient. Using both the noninvasive Holter monitoring/exercise test procedure and invasive electrophysiologic testing, a beneficial antiarrhythmic response after institution of antiarrhythmic agents indicates improved prognosis. However, a negative treatment response during programmed stimulation does not necessarily indicate bad prognosis. This is particularly true for testing during amiodarone treatment. For unselected patients, routine antiarrhythmic treatment cannot currently be recommended. Continuing studies will show whether screening for electrical instability of the myocardium, and institution of antiarrhythmic therapy thereafter, will improve overall survival. If patients tolerate beta-blocking treatment, this should probably be instituted because reductions in mortality have been found, particularly in high-risk patients.