The Diminished Role of an Electrophysiology Study in the Current Guidelines for Sudden Cardiac Death

Authors

  • Antonis S Manolis Third Department of Cardiology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece

Keywords:

sudden cardiac death, electrophysiology study, programmed ventricular stimulation, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, cardiac resynchronization therapy

Abstract

According with the new European and American guidelines, the role of an electrophysiology study (EPS) remains small for risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD), limited to patients with an LVEF >35%, mostly indicated when evaluating symptoms suggestive of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, including palpitations, presyncope and syncope, mainly in those with underlying structural heart disease, particularly coronary artery disease in the setting of a remote myocardial infarction rather than non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Importantly, there is no indication or need of EPS as a prerequisite for any of the standard indications of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for secondary or primary prevention of SCD. Rhythmos 2018;13(1): 1-4.

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Published

2018-01-14

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2018)

Section

Editorial

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