Devices for management of sudden cardiac death: Successes, challenges and perspectives

Over the last decades, tremendous successes have been achieved in the management of sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure by use of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. However, dramatic changes in the overall treatment of these patients have led to a significantly changed risk for sudden cardiac death. This renders a reevaluation of the role of devices for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients receiving up-to-date optimal care imperative.