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Implantable cardioverter defibrillators: risks accompany the life-saving benefits.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Atwater, BD; Daubert, JP
Published in: Heart
May 2012

Sudden cardiac arrest is the one of the most common causes of death in developed countries and accounts for between 180,000 and over 450,000 per year in the USA. Antiarrhythmic drug approaches to prevention of sudden cardiac death have been resoundingly ineffective. The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) constitutes one of the most important and well validated therapeutic advances in modern cardiovascular medicine. Consequently, ICD use has increased exponentially, although implementation has been quite variable geographically and with respect to other measures. In view of the expanded use of ICDs, the potential shortcomings and risks of ICD therapy have attracted attention. This commentary summarises the weaknesses, disadvantages and risks of the ICD in a balanced fashion in light of their proven life-saving benefits.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Heart

DOI

EISSN

1468-201X

Publication Date

May 2012

Volume

98

Issue

10

Start / End Page

764 / 772

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Survival Rate
  • Risk Factors
  • Prognosis
  • Humans
  • Equipment Failure
  • Defibrillators, Implantable
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac
  • Cause of Death
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology
 

Citation

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Atwater, B. D., & Daubert, J. P. (2012). Implantable cardioverter defibrillators: risks accompany the life-saving benefits. Heart, 98(10), 764–772. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2012-301853
Atwater, Brett D., and James P. Daubert. “Implantable cardioverter defibrillators: risks accompany the life-saving benefits.Heart 98, no. 10 (May 2012): 764–72. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2012-301853.
Atwater BD, Daubert JP. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators: risks accompany the life-saving benefits. Heart. 2012 May;98(10):764–72.
Atwater, Brett D., and James P. Daubert. “Implantable cardioverter defibrillators: risks accompany the life-saving benefits.Heart, vol. 98, no. 10, May 2012, pp. 764–72. Pubmed, doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2012-301853.
Atwater BD, Daubert JP. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators: risks accompany the life-saving benefits. Heart. 2012 May;98(10):764–772.

Published In

Heart

DOI

EISSN

1468-201X

Publication Date

May 2012

Volume

98

Issue

10

Start / End Page

764 / 772

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Survival Rate
  • Risk Factors
  • Prognosis
  • Humans
  • Equipment Failure
  • Defibrillators, Implantable
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac
  • Cause of Death
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology