Termination of Malignant Ventricular Tachycardias by Use of an Automatical Defibrillator (AICD) in Combination with an Antitachycardial Pacemaker

Abstract

We implanted an "Automatic Implantable Converter-Defibrillator" (AICD) and as far as useful an antitachycardial pacemaker (Intertach) in addition in 11 patients suffering from malignant ventricular tachycardias via a median sternotomy. In eight cases a coronary artery disease and in three cases a dilatative myopathy was the intrinsic disease. During surgery in all patients we attempted to trigger ventricular tachycardias and their termination by programmed stimulation. This procedure was successful in nine patients who received an antitachycardial pacemaker system. After the wounds healing, repeated induced ventricular tachycardias in all patients, who received a combination of the systems, could be terminated by the antitachycardial pacemaker prior to an intervention of the implanted defibrillator.