Gender differences in the outcome of cardiac interventions.

I. The actual data base on the decision-making process of indication for revascularization reveals that angiographic severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) is the primary determinant of referral to coronary interventional procedures. Several recent studies demonstrated that after an acute myocardial infarction, women undergo cardiac catheterization to a lesser extent than men.

Long-term incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmia and shock therapy in patients with primary defibrillator implantation does not differ from event rates in patients treated for survived cardiac arrest.

Introduction: Recent trials have demonstrated benefit of prophylactic defibrillator (ICD) implantation compared to conventional treatment in high-risk patients. However, many patients have rare or no sustained arrhythmias following implantation. Our study addresses the question, whether patients with prophylactic defibrillator implantation have a lower risk for life-threatening ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) compared to sudden cardiac death (SCD) survivors.