03 Jun Implantable Defibrillators Improved Survival In Low Ejection Fraction Patients

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Sana Al-Khatib, M.D. MHS
Duke Clinical Research Institute
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, NC,

MedicalResearch: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Al-Khatib: Patients with an ejection fraction (measure of the pumping ability of the heart) of 30% to 35% who receive a prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator have better survival than similar patients with no implantable defibrillator.

MedicalResearch: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr. Al-Khatib: Clinical trials of prophylactic implantable defibrillators enrolled a minority of patients with an ejection fraction of 30 to 35%, so the survival benefit from these devices was largely implied in those patients. This is why our findings are novel.

MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Al-Khatib: Our results support guideline recommendations to offer prophylactic implantable defibrillators to patients with an ejection fraction of 35% or lower. As such, patients meeting our entry criteria and physicians taking care of those patients should consider pursuing a prophylactic implantable defibrillator.

MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Al-Khatib: Future research should examine the role of the implantable defibrillator in other important subgroups such as older patients and patients with several comorbidities.

Citation:

Last Updated on June 3, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD