Management of Sudden Cardiac Death in Cardiac Sarcoidosis Using the Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2018 Mar 23

PMID 29566033

Citations 4

Authors

Dirk Skowasch

Steven Ringquist

Georg Nickenig

Rene Andrie

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Patients with cardiac sarcoidosis are at increased risk of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that the wearable cardioverter defibrillator can be used to mitigate the risk of sudden cardiac death among cardiac sarcoidosis patients.

Methods: A retrospective review of the commercial database identified cardiac sarcoidosis patients who wore the wearable cardioverter defibrillator. Evidence for cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosis as well as demographic, co-morbidity and left ventricular ejection fraction were provided by patient clinical records. Clinical data also included daily wearable cardioverter defibrillator wear, shock treatment and survival information.

Results: The wearable cardioverter defibrillator was worn by 46 cardiac sarcoidosis patients, 24 (52%) male. The median age was 48 years and median left ventricular ejection fraction was 30%. The wearable cardioverter defibrillator was worn a median of 23.6 hours each day. There were 11 ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation episodes occurring in 10 (22%) patients. Ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation occurred over a range of 1 to 79 days, median 24 days. First-shock success for conversion of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation was 100%. Patient survival 24 hours after shock treatment was 100%. Follow up to determine the reason for discontinuing wearable cardioverter defibrillator use indicated that among shocked patients 7 received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, 1 patient was admitted to the hospital ending in death 2 weeks after discontinuing wearable cardioverter defibrillator use, and 2 patients were lost to follow up. Among the not shocked patients, there were 16 who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator while 7 achieved improved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Conclusion: Management of sudden cardiac death among cardiac sarcoidosis patients was aided by the wearable cardioverter defibrillator resulting in successful termination of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation upon delivery of shock.

Citing Articles

Wearable cardioverter defibrillator for preventing sudden cardiac death in patients at risk: An updated systematic review of comparative effectiveness and safety.

Goetz G, Wernly B, Wild C Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc. 2023; 45:101189.

PMID: 37025482 PMC: 10070821. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2023.101189.

Sudden cardiac death while waiting: do we need the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator?.

Israel C, Staudacher I, Leclercq C, Botto G, Scherr D, Fach A Clin Res Cardiol. 2022; 111(11):1189-1197.

PMID: 35305126 PMC: 9622539. DOI: 10.1007/s00392-022-02003-4.

Experience with a Wearable Cardioverter-defibrillator in 436 Patients.

Nagele H, Groene E, Stierle D, Ali Khan M, Nagele M J Innov Card Rhythm Manag. 2022; 13(1):4856-4862.

PMID: 35127240 PMC: 8812478. DOI: 10.19102/icrm.2022.130104.

[Wearable defibrillator : Current evidence].

Duncker D, Veltmann C Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol. 2018; 29(4):362-368.

PMID: 30357452 DOI: 10.1007/s00399-018-0601-z.

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