ABSTRACT
Ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart failure often contribute to clinical
decompensation, and can cause sudden death. Because ventricular arrhythmias are nearly
ubiquitous in heart failure, ambient arrhythmias represent only a portion of the many
important considerations in assessing sudden death risk. Implantable cardiac defibrillators
are considered for an increasing number of heart failure patients to prophylax against
arrhythmic sudden death. Some patients require adjunctive antiarrhythmic drug therapy
and occasionally catheter ablation to reduce the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias. The
etiologic diversity of patients with heart failure impacts the incidence of arrhythmias and
diagnostic as well as therapeutic strategies. Because of the complexities, potential risks
and benefits of these therapeutic modalities, it is essential that management is integrated
between patient, heart failure specialist, and electrophysiologist.
