Use of the Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator in High-Risk Populations.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) for use in patients who are at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and who do not yet have an established indication for an implantation cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or have contraindications for device implantation for various reasons. The WCD is typically used for primary prevention in (1) high-risk patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35 % after recent acute myocardial infarction (MI) during the 40-day ICD waiting period, (2) before and after coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous coronary intervention during the 90-day ICD waiting period, (3) after recently diagnosed nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NICM) during the 3- to 9-month medical therapy optimization period, or (4) for those with inherited proarrhythmic conditions such as long QT syndrome or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Unlike the automatic external defibrillator, the WCD does not require assistance from bystanders for therapy and conscious patients can delay or avert therapy with the use of response buttons.

Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation-Perils and Pitfalls: An Update.

Stroke and thromboembolism are catastrophic complications of atrial fibrillation (AF). Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) with an atrial lead can reliably detect atrial high-rate events (AHRE). However, this correlation may be imperfect because of oversensing and undersensing of atrial signals and spurious arrhythmias.

The Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: A US National Database Analysis.

Background: The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is often used in patients at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) who are not yet candidates for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy may be reversible, and a WCD may protect patients during the initial period of risk. We evaluate the benefit and compliance of the WCD in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM).

Diagnostic approach of pulmonary disease in the HIV negative immunocompromised host.

The advances in medicine have resulted in increasing number of immunocompromised patients with complications related to their underlying disease or the treatment of these conditions. Pulmonary infectious and non-infectious conditions are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients, and represent a diagnostic challenge. This article reviews the major conditions causing pulmonary symptoms in the HIV negative immunocompromised host.