ICD Implantation in Patients With Ischemic Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is responsible for most deaths related to heart disease. Risk stratification in patients with ischemic heart disease can identify patients at increased risk of sudden death who may derive a mortality benefit from an implantable defibrillator. The most commonly used clinical variable for risk stratification and selection of patients for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy for primary prevention of sudden death is left ventricular ejection fraction. Because many sudden deaths occur in patients without common high-risk variables and many patients with ICDs do not receive device therapy, further investigation is warranted to improve risk stratification and patient selection for defibrillator therapy.