Heart Device to Prevent Life-Threatening Rhythms After Cardiac Arrest

The DanICD study is testing whether a device called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) can help prevent future life-threatening heart rhythms in people who have survived a cardiac arrest caused by abnormal heartbeats. You would qualify if you've had a heart attack with blocked arteries (which were opened with surgery or catheterization) and survived a cardiac arrest. The study compares people who receive the ICD device with people who receive standard heart medications alone.

Doctors know that people who survive cardiac arrest from dangerous heart rhythms are at risk for it happening again. This study wants to find out whether implanting this device can give better protection than medication alone, especially in patients whose heart function has improved after their arteries were reopened.