TUESDAY, June 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For pediatric patients with ventricular arrhythmias at risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD), a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) seems safe and effective, according to a review published online June 26 in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.
David S. Spar, M.D., from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and colleagues conducted a retrospective review of all U.S. pediatric patients younger than 18 years who wore a WCD from 2009 to 2016. A total of 455 patients were identified: 63 patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) problem and 392 with a non-ICD problem.
The researchers found that for both groups of patients, wear time per day was above 20 hours. The ICD problem group had shorter wear duration (26 versus 35 days). Seven deaths (1.5 percent) were recorded; all were not wearing WCD at the time of death. At least one WCD shock treatment was received by eight patients (1.8 percent). Of the six patients (1.3 percent) with appropriate therapy, seven episodes of either polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation were recorded with 13 treatments delivered. Successful conversion of all episodes occurred and the patients survived.
“The WCD has overall adequate compliance with appropriate wear times and wear durations in pediatric patients. The WCD is safe and effective in treating ventricular arrhythmias that can lead to SCD in pediatric patients,” the authors write.
One author is an employee of ZOLL.
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