ACCEPTANCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER IMPL ANTATION OF THE AUTOMATIC CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATOR

The cardioverter defibrillator therapy has proven to be effective in p reventing sudden cardiac death. However, there are only few reports th at this kind of therapy will change the life of patients. Therefore, t he purpose of the present study was to further evaluate this item. The quality of life of 195 patients with implanted cardioverter defibrill ator (ICD) was investigated with the help of a questionnaire and a per sonal interview. An increased or unchanged quality of life was reporte d by 89% of patients. The acceptance of the therapy was high (92% of t he patients). Anxiety was reported by 25% of patients, the estimation of the received shocks was depending on the amount of shocks. No influ ence was seen by the operative technique of implantation (epicardial v ersus transvenous lead system) with regard to the opinion of the patie nts toward the operation stress. The ICD gives a feeling of safety to 90% of the patients and this kind of therapy is marked by a high degre e of acceptance.