[Primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death in the ICD Registry-Latin America].

Introduction And Objectives: The ICD Registry is an observational study conducted in Latin America to collect data on indications and follow-up care for primary or secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death patients. The objective of this study is to compare and evaluate the characteristics of primary versus secondary prevention in the patient population enrolled in the registry.

Methods: Demographic data, indication, etiology, NYHA functional class and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), pharmacological treatment at implant and the type of ICD implanted were also collected.

Ventricular resynchronization through biventricular cardiac pacing for the treatment of refractory heart failure in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: The biventricular pacing (BVP) approach has good results in the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients (pts) with disorders of intraventricular conduction.

Methods: We have applied BVP to 28 pts, with left ventricular pacing using minitoracotomy in 3 pts and the transvenous approach via coronary sinus in 25 pts. The mean duration of the QRS complexes was 187 ms, in the presence of the left branch block in 22 pts, and right branch block + divisional hemiblock in 6 pts.