Invasive therapy for inherited cardiac arrhythmias: towards a better benefit-risk equilibrium

Invasive therapies, especially the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), have become important treatment options for patients with inherited cardiac arrhythmia syndromes to prevent them from sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, these invasive therapies are accompanied by treatment-related complications, while a substantial part of the patients have no treatment benefit. The aim of the current thesis was to provide evidence for the optimization of the benefit-harm equilibrium of treatment in patients with inherited cardiac arrhythmia syndromes who are at risk for SCD by refining therapy indications, evaluating current treatment strategies and testing new treatment options which aim to minimize therapy harm.