The Ali Massumi Cardiac Arrhythmia Symposium: (★ CME Information)

Cardiac electrophysiologic therapy has evolved substantially from primarily managing arrhythmias with drugs to using various nonpharmacologic methods to detect and terminate arrhythmias. Among these are the treatment options for patients with ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT/VF), the chief cause of sudden cardiac death. Pharmacotherapy has not proved adequate for many patients with VT/VF. Although implantable cardioverter-defibrillators can effectively terminate VT/VF, repetitive shocks impair quality of life, and inappropriate shocks in patients with heart failure are associated with higher mortality rates. Percutaneous catheter ablation is a promising therapy, particularly in patients with recurrent, drug-refractory VT