WCD and pacing

Q: 68 years old male with past medical history of congestive heart failure (CHF) who was recently admitted for episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) due to exacerbation of CHF is discharged from hospital with Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (WCD). Patient is planned to have a permanent defibrillator & pacemaker (PPM) placement next week. WCD also has temporary pacing capabilities.

A) True

B) False

Answer: B

WCD is an external device frequently prescribed on discharge to patients who have risks of death from ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). These patients are also expected to be on medications that may slow the heart rate to control VT and VF, such as beta-blockers or amiodarone. It should be understood that the approved devices do not have pacing capabilities. In the case of "brady or tachy-brady" episodes, these wearable jackets can not provide any pacing.

#cardiology

References:

1. Sharma PS, Bordachar P, Ellenbogen KA. Indications and use of the wearable cardiac defibrillator. Eur Heart J 2016.

2. Cheung CC, Olgin JE, Lee BK. Wearable cardioverter-defibrillators: A review of evidence and indications. Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Apr;31(3):196-201. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2020.03.002. Epub 2020 Mar 12. PMID: 32205034.

3. Alsamman M, Prashad A, Abdelmaseih R, Khalid T, Prashad R. Update on Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator: A Comprehensive Review of Literature. Cardiol Res. 2022 Aug;13(4):185-189. doi: 10.14740/cr1387. Epub 2022 Aug 15. PMID: 36128416; PMCID: PMC9451591.