[Treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and prevention of sudden cardiac death: commentary on the 2016 ESC guideline].

The 2016 ESC guideline on prevention and therapy of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death present an excellent recommendation and summary for all forms of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with and without structural or electrical heart disease. This includes cardiomyopathies as well as conditions such as proarrhythmia, neurologic/psychaitric disorders, or pregnancy. Some aspects are novel; (1) the guideline emphasizes for the first time genetic work-up in sudden cardiac death victims; (2) for prevention of sudden cardiac death systematic re-evaluation 6-12 weeks after myocardial infarction is recommended; (3) subcutaneous ICD as well as the wearable cardioverter/defibrillator are for the first time included in the guidelines; (4) automatic external defibrillators are recommended for public places; (5) for patients with recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias the role of catheter ablation has been upgraded.