Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Associated With Cardiac Channelopathies

Although cardiac channelopathies account for only 3% of sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) that occur in young people, they have been the focus of much research because of their traumatic effect on families and society.¹ Many advances have been made in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of these conditions that have informed practices and formed the foundation of professional guidelines and statements.^2,3 One such guideline is the American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC)/Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Guideline for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death, the focus of this synopsis.³ This guideline covered the following cardiac channelopathies: long QT syndrome (LQTS), catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), Brugada syndrome, early repolarization, and short QT syndrome.³