Epicardial Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation Concomitant with Coronary Artery Bypass in Patients with Low Ejection Fraction

Ahmet Barış Durukan, Ahmet Ünlü, Ali Cevat Tanalp

Keywords: Heart failure, coronary artery bypass, defibrillators, implantable, death, sudden, cardiac

Abstract

Patients with severe left ventricular failure are directed to surgical revascularization owing to possibilities of improved survival and the associated postoperative functional status. However, when a postoperative ejection fraction > 35% is unlikely, patients are still at increased risk for sudden cardiac death due to malignant arrhythmias. We documented our results in patients with an ejection fraction < 35% who were concomitantly implanted with a cardioverter-defibrillator by surgical revascularization. We believe that simultaneous surgery is advantageous in terms of preventing sudden cardiac death in the early postoperative period and that it lacks necessity for further intervention.