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The Antiarrhythmics versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) Investigators. A comparison of antiarrhythmic-drug therapy with implantable defibrillators in patients resuscitated from near-fatal ventricular arrhythmias. N Engl J Med 1997, 337:1576–1583.
Connolly SJ, Gent M, Roberts RS, et al.: Canadian Implantable Defibrillator Study (CIDS): a randomized trial of implantable cardioverter defibrillator against amiodarone. Circulation 2000, 101:1297–1302.
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Moss AJ, Hall WJ, Cannom DS, et al.: for the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial Investigators: Improved survival with an implanted defibrillator in patients with coronary disease at high risk for ventricular arrhythmia. N Engl J Med 1996, 335:1933–1940.
Bigger JT for the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Patch Trial Investigators: Prophylactic use of implanted cardiac defibrillators in patients at high risk for ventricular arrhythmias after coronary-artery bypass graft surgery. N Engl J Med 1997, 337:1569–1575.
Moss AJ, Zareba W, Hall WJ, et al.: Prophylactic implantation of a defibrillator in patients with myocardial infarction and reduced ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 2002, 346:877–883. This was the largest trial of prophylactic ICD therapy in those with coronary artery disease. Entry criteria were broad and results were highly significant.
Bardy GH, Lee KL, Mark DB, et al., for the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT) Investigators: Amiodarone or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for congestive heart failure. N Engl J Med 2005, 352:225–237. Unlike other trials, the focus of this study was on patients with symptomatic congestive heart failure. Patients with both nonischemic and ischemic heart failure were included. No benefit was shown with amiodarone in reducing the incidence of sudden death.
Bristow MR, Saxon LA, Boehmer J, et al., for the Comparison of Medical Therapy, Pacing, and Defibrillation in Heart Failure (COMPANION) Investigators: Cardiac-resynchronization therapy with or without an implantable defibrillator in advanced chronic heart failure. N Engl J Med 2004, 350:2140–2150. This study highlights the particular benefits of cardiac resynchronization combined with a defibrillator.
Kadish A, Dyer A, Daubert JP, et al., for the Defibrillators in Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Treatment Evaluation (DEFINITE) Investigators: Prophylactic defibrillator implantation in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. N Engl J Med 2004, 350:2151–2158.