Abstract
Patients with syncopal episode or ventricular fibrillation are usually referred for consultation to ICU. It has been recognized that ventricular fibrillation can occur in the structurally normal heart or so-called idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. In this category, an additional clinical and electrocardiographic subgroup, now frequently called Brugada syndrome, associated with a specific electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern of right bundle-branch block and ST-segment elevation in leads V1 to V3 was reported in 1992. Current management and prognosis based on several studies suggesting a high mortality risk for middle-aged men and implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) seems to be the only proven effective therapy in preventing sudden death in patients with the Brugada syndrome.
In the field of intensive and critical care medicine, the clinical features of the Brugada syndrome must be more widely enlightened, because it is possible to prevent sudden death.
