CARDIOMYOPLASTY AFTER IMPLANTATION OF A PACEMAKER AND CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR/

Presently, a combination of two surgical methods improves the survival of patients with advanced ventricular dysfunction: implantable cardio verter/defibrillator implantation (which prevents sudden cardiac death ) and cardiomyoplasty (which prevents further dilatation of the heart and provides additional cardiac assistance). We report the clinical co urse of a patient who had cardiomyoplasty after cardioverter/defibrill ator implantation and pacemaker insertion. It is a rare case in which three different devices cardioverter/defibrillator, pacemaker, and car diomyostimulator) are functioning together without crosstalk. (Ann Tho rac Surg 1998;66:954-6) (C) 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.