Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Sudden Death and Implantable Defibrillators

Abstract

Implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD) are greatly efficient in eliminating arrhythmias in patients withhigh-risk hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, showing that this equipment has a contribution in the prevention and treatment of unexpected death. When patients have risk marker, unexpected death in one or more first-degree relations with maximal left ventricle wall thickness 30 mm of current and unexplained syncopal episode, ICD installation is considered appropriate. If one has a dangerously fast heartbeat that prevents heart from pumping enough blood to the rest of body ventricular fibrillationor ventricular tachycardia, or if the patient is at high risk of suffering such a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), usually due to a weak heart muscle, the patient can survive using ICD.