Therapy of ventricular tachyarrhythmias by implantation of cardioverter defibrillators

Today, the implantation of cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) can be considered as a well established therapeutic option for certain types of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Similar to pacemaker implantation, only a single infraclavicular incision is required. The leads are placed transvenously and the generator is positioned beneath the major pectoral muscle. ICD implantation can be performed mainly under local anesthesia, and the duration of the procedure rarely exceeds 1 hour, if it is done by electrophysiologically experienced cardiac surgeons. Follow-up can be time consuming but is facilitated by diagnostic functions of the devices. Peri- and postoperative complications have become rare. Given the necessary and desirable improvements, ICD therapy will gain an increasing importance in the therapy of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in the near future.