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Device therapy

Defibrillators—a shocking therapy for cardiomyopathy?

Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 7, pages 69–70 (2010)Cite this article

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Defibrillators, with or without cardiac resynchronization therapy, can reduce the rate of sudden death. However, shocks are unpleasant, often unnecessary, and can damage myocardium or defibrillator leads, thereby increasing morbidity and mortality and detracting from the benefits of this therapy. Conservative programming of devices may reduce such risks.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Castle Hill Hospital, University of Hull, Hull and York Medical School, HU6 5JQ, Kingston-upon-Hull, UK

    John G. F. Cleland & Laszlo Buga

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  1. John G. F. Cleland
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  2. Laszlo Buga
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Correspondence to John G. F. Cleland.

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Competing interests

J. G. F. Cleland is a consultant for and as received research grants and speaker's honoraria from Medtronic, Biotronik and St Jude Medical. L. Buga declares no competing interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Table

Key clinical trials that investigated strategies to reduce defibrillator shocks (DOC 45 kb)

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Cleland, J., Buga, L. Defibrillators—a shocking therapy for cardiomyopathy?. Nat Rev Cardiol 7, 69–70 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2009.233

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