Important Life Saving Information
for referring physicians

New Indications for Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICD)

EF 35 percent or less

If your patient has heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35 percent or less, he or she is a candidate for an implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD). Patients with ischemic heart disease with manifest heart failure and left ventricular ejection fractions less than or equal to 30 percent are also ICD candidates.

Please print and keep this handy information card for reference.

New Indications for ICD

• Non-Ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) 9 months, plus NYHA Class II/III and LVEF of 35% or less
  
  or

• Ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (ICDM), plus hx of prior MI, plus NYHA Class II/III and LVEF of 35% or less

Other Indications for ICD

• Prior MI and EF of 30% or less
  
  or

• Prior MI and EF of 35% or less, and non-sustained VT (greater than or equal to 3 beats) and inducible VT, VF at EP testing
  
  or

• Sustained VT, poorly tolerated
  
  or

• Cardiac arrest survivor 2^o to VT, VF

Indications for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Any ICD indication plus NYHA Class III/IV, plus EF of 35% or less, plus QRS greater than or equal to 120 ms, plus persistent symptoms despite OPT

The Rush Electrophysiology Program
1725 W. Harrison St., Suite 1159
Chicago, IL 60612
Departmental information line: (312) 942-6858
Physician referral fax: (312) 942-5862