New Application for ICD Family

A family of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) now has an expanded indication that includes the prophylactic use of the ICDs for cardiac patients who have had a previous heart attack and have an ejection fraction less than or equal to 30%.

Ejection fraction is a measure of how efficiently the heart pumps blood. A level of 30% or less is an indication of impaired function that puts heart attack survivors at increased risk for sudden cardiac death. The US Food and Drug Administration expanded the product ICD labeling based on the results of a trial published in the March 21, 2002, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial showed that use of the ICDs reduced mortality by 31% for heart attack survivors with an ejection fraction at or below 30%.
The ICDs are the products of Guidant Corp. (Indianapolis, IN, USA).

"Heart attack survivors should know their ejection fraction as well as they know their blood pressure and cholesterol levels,” said Arthur J. Moss, M.D., University of Rochester Medical Center, the lead investigator for the trial.

Recently, Guidant announced that its Vitality ICD had received the CE Mark. The company says Vitality is the world's smallest dual-chamber ICD.




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