EFFICACY OF IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFI BRILLATORS IN PATIENTS AWAITING CARDIAC TRANSPLANTATION

8 of 122 patients receiving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in our department since 1985 for the treatment of ventricular ta chyarrhythmias were considered candidates for cardiac transplantation. In 6 of 8 patients, at least one successful ICD discharge (range 1-37 8 discharges) was documented in the follow up time until transplantati on. These therapies included cardioversions/defibrillations as well as overdrive stimulation in sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardi a. 1 patient died shortly before receiving a compatible organ. The rem aining 7 patients survived successful heart transplantation undertaken 7-34 months after implantation of the cardioverter defibrillator. Car diac transplantation was not complicated in any of these patients by t he previous ICD management. Our results show the high efficacy of ICD as ''bridge to transplant'' therapy unit cardiac transplantation.