Abstract

ARGUEDAS-JIMENEZ, Hugo  and  GUTIERREZ-SOTELO, Oswaldo. Primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death in a hospital of the social security system in Costa Rica: report from the registry of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, 2007-2011. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2013, vol.55, n.1, pp.41-49. ISSN 0001-6002.

Aim: Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in the prevention of sudden cardiac death. The validation of this evidence has to be assessed through various registries. The objective of this study was to describe the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients who were referred to a tertiary hospital in Costa Rica to be treated with a cardioverter-defibrillators implantable; as well as the associated problems and complications. Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study, which included all patients who were treated with a cardioverter-defibrillator implantable in the “Dr. Rafael A. Calderón Guardia” hospital between 2007 and 2011. Results: Twenty three patients were included. The mean age was 55 ± 18 years. Ischemic heart disease was the most frequent etiology (10 patients). Twenty patients had functional class I or II and the mean ejection fraction was 0.38 ± 0.17. In 18 patients, the cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted for secondary prevention. Five patients had an early complication; all of them had dual-chamber devices: 2 minor hematomas, 1 coronary sinus dissection, 1 right atrial lead displacement, and 1 cardio embolic stroke. From a total of 101 therapies (in 8 patients), 94 were appropriate (in 5 patients) and 7 were inappropriate (in 3 patients); 2 of the latter 3 patients had a history of atrial fibrillation episodes. Conclusion: This registry shows that the majority of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators implantations are performed as a secondary prevention, with a high rate of adequate therapies and a low rate of inadequate ones. The registry allowed an assessment of the indications and complications of this device therapy.

Keywords : Implantable defibrillators; sudden death; arrhythmias.

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