Role of Cardiac Imaging in Evaluating Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death

Publication date: December 2017 Source:Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics, Volume 9, Issue 4 Author(s): Constancia Macatangay, Juan F. Viles-Gonzalez, Jeffrey J. GoldbergerTeaser Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major cause of death from cardiovascular disease. Our ability to predict patients at the highest risk of developing lethal ventricular arrhythmias remains limited. Despite recent studies evaluating risk stratification tools, there is no optimal strategy. Cardiac imaging provides the opportunity to assess left ventricular ejection fraction, strain, fibrosis, and sympathetic innervation, all of which are pathophysiologically related to SCD risk. These modalities may play a role in the identification of vulnerable anatomic substrates that provide the pathophysiologic basis for SCD. Further studies are required to identify optimal imaging platform for risk assessment.
Source: Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research