Cardioverter-defibrillator implantation: Is it appropriate for patients with syncope of unknown origin?

Since available data are limited, we undertook this long-term follow-up study of 50 consecutive patients with syncope of undetermined origin who had ventricular tachyarrhythmias at electrophysiological evaluation and were treated with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator. During follow-up, appropriate device shocks were common (50% at three-year follow-up) and sudden cardiac death was rare (2%). Our findings support the newer strategy of using the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to manage patients with syncope of unknown origin and inducible ventricular arrhythmias.