Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2018 | Devices (C Veltmann, Section Editor)
Role of the Wearable Defibrillator in Newly Diagnosed Heart Failure
Published in: Current Heart Failure Reports | Issue 6/2018
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Purpose of Review
The wearable defibrillator (WCD) was shown to be safe and effective in detecting and terminating ventricular tachyarrhythmias and therefore allows temporary protection from sudden cardiac death. This review gives an overview of the current data on WCD in newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy.
Recent Findings
Patients with newly diagnosed heart failure and reduced LVEF appear to have an increased risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, which may decrease over time when heart failure medication is optimized and left ventricular function improves. This was shown to apply for patients with ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, including peripartum cardiomyopathy. Prolongation of the WCD period may support to further optimization of heart failure medication, by protecting the patient from sudden cardiac death during this time and to avoid untimely ICD implantation.
Summary
The WCD should be considered in structured patient management for newly diagnosed heart failure during the early phase of the disease. Careful patient selection, structured patient management, and patient’s compliance is crucial for a successful WCD strategy.