Naccarelli G V, Wolbrette D L, Dell'Orfano J T, Patel H M, Luck J C
Section of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Center, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, USA.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 1998 Aug;9(8):864-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8167.1998.tb00127.x.
Multiple trials using antiarrhythmic drugs, pharmacologic therapy, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators have been performed in an attempt to improve survival in patients: (1) postmyocardial infarction; (2) with congestive heart failure, with and without nonsustained ventricular tachycardia; and (3) with sustained ventricular tachycardia and those who have survived an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This article reviews some of the key findings and limitations of completed and ongoing trials. We also make recommendations for the current treatment of such patients based on the results of these trials.
