Ventricular Arrhythmias, Defibrillators, Sudden Cardiac Death and Syncope

Ventricular tachyarrhythmias have heterogeneous etiologies, clinical consequences, and treatment strategies. Distinguishing ventricular tachyarrhythmias from supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with aberrancy clinically and on the surface electrocardiogram can be challenging, yet has substantial therapeutic implications. A wide body of randomized clinical trial data has emerged addressing the efficacy of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for the prevention of sudden cardiac death.