Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Clinical Guidelines and Indications

Clinical guidelines and indications include ACC and AHA Guidelines for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy for sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (VT and VF).

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Overview

2008 ACC/AHA/HRS Guidelines for Implantable Defibrillator and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy for Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities¹ (PDF, 565 KB)

Despite ICDs and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices (CRT-Ds) being a Class I or IIa indication for treatment of patients, research confirms underutilization and variation of care in heart failure patients.^2,3

References

Epstein AE, DiMarco JP, Ellenbogen KA, et al. ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. J Am Coll Cardiol. May 27, 2008;51(21):e1-62.

Fonarow GC, Yancy CW, Albert NM, et al. Heart failure care in the outpatient cardiology practice setting: findings from IMPROVE HF. Circulation: Heart Failure. 2008;1:98-106.

Piccini JP, Hernandez AF, Dai D, et al. Use of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure. Circulation. 2008;118:926-933.

Class I Recommendations

Class I Recommendations for ICD

Class I recommendations for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are listed below.^1-3 ICD therapy is indicated in patients:*

Level of Evidence – A

With LVEF ≤ 35% due to prior MI who are at least 40 days post-MI and are in NYHA Functional Class II or III
With LV dysfunction due to prior MI who are at least 40 days post-MI, have an LVEF ≤ 30%, and are in NYHA Functional Class 1
Who are survivors of sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) after evaluation to define the cause of the event and to exclude any completely reversible causes

Level of Evidence – B

With nonischemic DCM who have an LVEF ≤ 35% and who are in NYHA Functional Class II or III
With nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) due to prior MI, LVEF < 40%, and inducible ventricular fibrillation or sustained ventricular tachycardia at electrophysiological study
With structural heart disease and spontaneous sustained VT, whether hemodynamically stable or unstable
With syncope of undetermined origin with clinically relevant, hemodynamically significant sustained VT or VF induced at electrophysiological study

* Assuming patients are on chronic, optimal medical therapy and have a reasonable expectation of survival with good functional status for > 1 year.

References

Epstein AE, DiMarco JP, Ellenbogen KA, et al. ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. J Am Coll Cardiol. May 27, 2008;51(21):e1-62.

Fonarow GC, Yancy CW, Albert NM, et al. Heart failure care in the outpatient cardiology practice setting: findings from IMPROVE HF. Circulation: Heart Failure. July 2008;1:98-106.

Piccini JP, Hernandez AF, Dai D, et al. Use of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure. Circulation. 2008;118:926-933.

Class II Recommendations

Class II Recommendations for ICD

Class II recommendations for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are listed below.^1-3 ICD implantation is reasonable for patients:*

Level of Evidence – B

To reduce sudden cardiac death in patients with Long QT Syndrome who are experiencing syncope and/or ventricular tachycardia while receiving beta blockers

Level of Evidence – C

With unexplained syncope, significant LV dysfunction, and nonischemic DCM
With sustained ventricular tachycardia and normal or near-normal ventricular function
With catecholaminergic polymorphic VT who have syncope and/or documented sustained VT while receiving beta blockers
For the prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients with ARVD/C who have one or more risk factors for sudden cardiac death
With HCM who have one or more major risk factors for sudden cardiac death
With Brugada syndrome who have had syncope or documented VT that has not resulted in cardiac arrest
With cardiac sarcoidosis, giant cell myocarditis, or Chagas disease
For nonhospitalized patients awaiting transplantation

* Assuming patients are on chronic, optimal medical therapy and have a reasonable expectation of survival with good functional status for > 1 year.

References

Epstein AE, DiMarco JP, Ellenbogen KA, et al. ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. J Am Coll Cardiol. May 27, 2008;51(21):e1-62.

Fonarow GC, Yancy CW, Albert NM, et al. Heart failure care in the outpatient cardiology practice setting: findings from IMPROVE HF. Circulation: Heart Failure. July 2008;1:98-106.

Piccini JP, Hernandez AF, Dai D, et al. Use of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure. Circulation. 2008;118:926-933.

Indications, Safety, and Warnings