心脏猝死(SCD)在美国是危害健康的主要问题之一,其定义为心脏症状发作后1小时内发生的死亡,绝大多数由室颤(VF)或持续性室速(VT)恶化为VF所致。在美国每年约40～50万人患此种心律失常,其中仅20～30%经急救存活。尽管药物治疗、外科手术及急救医学取得进展,SCD率仍居高不下。在120万接受抗心律失常药物治疗的患者中,30%并不能防止SCD发生。埋藏式心脏复律除颤器(ICD)为有SCD潜在危险的患者带来希望,自1985年美国食品及药物管理(FDA)批准ICD临床应用以来,埋植ICD已 Sudden death from the heart (SCD) is one of the major health hazards in the United States, defined as the death occurring within 1 hour of the onset of cardiac symptoms, the vast majority of which worsens from ventricular fibrillation (VF) or persistent ventricular tachycardia (VT) to VF Due. Approximately 400,000 to 500,000 people suffer from such arrhythmias in the United States each year, of whom only 20 to 30% survive by first aid. Despite advances in medical treatment, surgery and emergency medicine, SCD rates remain high. Of the 1.2 million patients treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, 30% did not prevent SCD. Buried cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) offer hope to patients at risk of developing SCD. ICDs have been implanted since the FDA approved the clinical use of ICD in 1985