Sudden Cardiac Death & Ventricular Arrhythmias
2022 ESC Guidelines Review
LVEF & NYHA
for SCD riks stratification
LVEF & NYHA
remain the 2 key parameters for SCD risk stratifications.
LVEF & NYHA are strongly associated with SCD risks.
And treatment according to these 2 parameters reduce mortality. See MADIT II and SCD-HeFT for examples.
Impaired LVEF after MI
inversely correlates with risk of SCD.

ICD is recommended in post MI with LVEF ≤30%, after optimal medical treatment (OMT), regardless of symptoms.

VALIANT Trial NEJM 2005.
Majority of deaths in NYHA II & III are caused by SCD.
ICD is recommended in LVEF≤35% and NYHA II or III with several underlying cardiac conditions.
Noted that the level of recommendation of ICD for DCM with LVEF≤35% and NYHA II or III was downgraded from I to IIa in response to the result of DANISH trial.

MERIT-HF. Lancet 1999.
BEYOND LVEF & NYHA
˙Programmed Electrical Stimulation (PES)
˙Cardiac MRI
˙Genetic Testing
˙SCD Risk Score
PES
is indicated in post MI patients with unexplained syncope who do not meet other criteria for ICD.
PES is useful for further risk stratifications after unexplained syncope in...
˙Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Neuromuscular Disease
˙DCM/HNDCM, ARVC, Sarcoidosis, Congenital Heart Disease
˙Brugada Syndrome

color denotes class of recommendation.
2022 ESC Guidelines for SCD/VA
ETIOLOGIES OF DCM/HNDCM
are widely variable among different population.
Genetic Mutation in DCM & SCD Risks
Certain genetic mutations in DCM/HNDCM are associated with higher SCD risks.
LGE in MRI and SCD Risks
Circulation 2021.
MRI in diagnosis and risk stratification
˙Survivor of SCA w/o clear causes (after Echo), ARVC, HCM
˙DCM/HNDCM, Suspected PVC-induced cardiomyopathy, LVNC, Neuromuscular Disease, Sarcoidosis
color denotes class of recommendation. 2022 ESC Guidelines for SCD/VA
RISK SCORE FOR LMNA DCM/HNDCM
Consider ICD in LMNA Mutation + Estimate 5-yr VA risk ≥10% (IIA)
link to LMNA Risk Score
CATHERTER ABLATION OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA
In CAD, ablation is indicated in patients with recurrent VTs after ICD and Amiodarone. This recommendation came as a result of VANISH trial. The trial showed that VT ablation was associated with better clinical outcomes than escalation in antiarrhythmic therapy.
VT ABLATION in non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
Data is less robust. Highest class of recommendation is IIa
IDIOPATHIC PVC/VT
Consider cardiac MRI for Atypical Presentation, i.e. older age, RBBB morphology. (IIa)
EVALUATION OF
SCA Survivors
BENEFIT OF ICD
is not seen right away. It would need almost a year to see the difference.
MADIT II and EU-CERT-ICD
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SCD Animation