Intracardiac Emergency Defibrillation for Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation During Implantation of Cardioverter Defibrillators with Nonthoracotomy Lead Systems |
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Authors: | HEINZ F. PITSCHNER JORG NEUZNER |
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Affiliation: | Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff-Klinik of the Max-Planck-Society, Bad Nauheim, Germany |
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Abstract: | Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are being implanted in increasing numbers. At inlraoperative defibrillation threshold tests refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF) requiring emergency open chest resuscitation is a major concern during impiantation of nonthoracotomy ICD lead systems. A new method of high energy endocardial/extrathoracic defibrillotion via the implanted ICD transvenous defibrillation electrode (TDE) was used to terminate refractory VF. During implantation of ICD with TDE in 20 patients refractory VF occurred in two patients. The arrhythmia was terminated with endocardial/extrathoracic defibrillation in both cases, and no complications were observed. |
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Keywords: | cardioverter defibrilator with nonthoracotomy lead systems refractory ventricular fibrillation emergency open chest resuscitation endocardial/extrathoracic defibrillation |
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