ACCF/HRS/AHA/ASE/HFSA/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR 2013 Appropriate Use Criteria for Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

March 7, 2013—This document was developed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) along with key specialty societies. The document provides assessed levels of appropriateness for implanting ICDs and CRTs in 369 real-life case scenarios, with the goal of enhancing physician and patient decision making and improving care and health outcomes.

Six areas are covered within the document: ICDs for primary prevention, ICDs for secondary prevention, comorbidities, CRT devices, generator replacements with pre-existing cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, and dual- vs. single-chamber ICDs.

The AUC should be used in conjunction with the ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities and the 2012 focused update and is meant to provide additional guidance concerning the decision to implant ICDs and CRT devices in a variety of clinical scenarios that may or may not be represented in the guidelines, often providing additional guidance in areas where there are gaps in guidelines.