Ventricular tachyarrhythmias, the major cause of sudden unexpected cardiac arrest, occur specifically in patients with structural heart disease. In general, all types of structural heart disease... Show moreVentricular tachyarrhythmias, the major cause of sudden unexpected cardiac arrest, occur specifically in patients with structural heart disease. In general, all types of structural heart disease may lead to chronic heart failure, a severe condition with an additional high risk of atrial- and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The thesis starts with a general overview (chapter 1) of the epidemiology, pathofysiology, prognosis and therapeutical options of heart failure. In this overview all subjects of study of the following chapters are introduced and explained. Next, attention is focused on clinical ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Chapter 2-5 of this thesis aim at evaluating the diagnostic approach, the therapeutical option of radiofrequency catheter ablation and the risk of recurrences in patients who had presented with a (malignant) ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The second part of this thesis (chapter 6-9) evaluates the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy -a novel treatment option in patients suffering from heart failure- on the occurrence of atrial- and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In addition the effect of cardiac resynchroniation therapy on patients with diabetes mellitus is evaluated. Show less