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Previous Volume 359:2245-2253 November 20, 2008 Number 21 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Persons who survive a myocardial infarction are at increased risk for sudden death from cardiac causes, owing largely to ventricular tachyarrhythmias.^1,2 The risk of sudden death after a myocardial infarction is highest during the first 12 months and then declines.^3,4,5,6 Although survival during the acute and early convalescent phases after a myocardial infarction has improved as a result of therapies introduced during the past 25 years,⁷ a delayed increase in the risk of sudden death from cardiac causes after the initial convalescent phase has become evident. Those in whom ventricular remodeling and heart failure develop are at greatest risk^8,9 (. . . [Full Text of this Article]

Evidence of the Benefit and Reliability of ICDs

Primary Prevention of Sudden Death after Myocardial Infarction

Selection of Patients for Primary Prevention

Ejection Fraction

Heart Failure

QRS Duration

Time-Dependent Benefit

Coexisting Conditions and Age

Other Considerations

Areas of Uncertainty

Recommendations

Source Information

From the Division of Cardiology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Myerburg at the Division of Cardiology (D-39), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, P.O. Box 016960, Miami, FL 33101, or at rmyerbur@med.miami.edu.

Related Letters:

Implantable Cardioverter–Defibrillators
Kukin M. L., Kapoor R., Kapoor J. R., Myerburg R. J.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2009; 360:937-938, Feb 26, 2009. Correspondence

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• Tung, R. (2009). Reply.. J Am Coll Cardiol 53: 1162-1163 [Full Text]  
• Dorian, P. (2009). Effective and efficient use of implantable defibrillators: Sometimes it's over when it's over. CMAJ 180: 599-600 [Full Text]  
• Kukin, M. L., Kapoor, R., Kapoor, J. R., Myerburg, R. J. (2009). Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators. NEJM 360: 937-938 [Full Text]