Foreword

Article Outline

• Copyright

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an important mode of death in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The beneficial effect of implantable defibrillators in reducing SCD in selected subsets of patients makes it important for physicians treating patients with CVD to learn more about SCD.

In the present issue, Drs. Tseng and Turakhia have provided a comprehensive review of SCD, which includes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, mechanisms of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, etiology, treatment, and, importantly, the guidelines for ICD implantation, and have provided 157 references.

The Editorial Board and I are grateful to Drs. Tseng and Turakhia for this contribution and to Dr. Masood Akhtar,^⁎ who has provided valuable comments in addition to those of Editorial Board Member Dr. Melvin Scheinman.

• ⁎ Masood Akhtar, MD, is Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Milwaukee Clinical Campus, Chief, Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Director, Arrhythmia Services, Aurora Sinai Medical Center.