IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC DEFIBRILLATOR

IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR

Overview and Facts

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator is a compact battery-powered gadget implanted in the chest to track the heart rhythm and detect abnormal heartbeats. In order to repair an erratic heart rhythm, an ICD may produce electrical shocks from one or more wires attached to your heart. 

If you have a dangerously rapid pulse (ventricular tachycardia) or a chaotic heartbeat that prevents the heart from providing the rest of the body with adequate oxygen, you may need an ICD (ventricular fibrillation). The ventricles are the heart’s lower chambers. 

ICDs recognize and avoid irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). It tracks your heartbeat constantly and provides electrical pulses if necessary to restore a regular heart rhythm. An ICD is used to better monitor irregular heartbeats.

Types and Symptoms

TYPES

Four types of ICDs:

  • Single chamber – this type of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a result of variable tissue contact. The generator has to pre-amplify with a gain of about 4 to compensate for the intrinsically smaller electrograms (EGMs).
  • Dual-chamber – this type of ICD is also an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.  There are leads connected to the system in the right atrium of the heart and the right ventricle. In a regular order, it will send energy to the right atrium and then to the right ventricle, making the heart be placed correctly. 
  • Biventricular – this is sometimes called cardiac resynchronization pacing with an ICD (CRT-D). A compact, lightweight system powered by batteries is made up of a biventricular pacemaker and an ICD. This system helps keep the heart normally beating and protects you from heart rhythms that are dangerous.
  • Subcutaneous – it is an electronic gadget that continuously records the speed of the pulse. It delivers energy to the heart muscle as it senses a very rapid, irregular heart rhythm.

Side Effects

  • swollen veins in arms
  • implant site pain
  • anxious mood
  • pain

Consult your doctor and seek treatment if you feel an anxiety attack. You may avoid or alleviate possible anxiety by posing questions and thoughts about the ICD.

Diagnosis & Medications

TREATMENT

Results

In a quarter of adults with coronary heart disease (CHD) and with low complication rates, the ICD offered effective treatment. However, the occurrence of unwanted shocks seemed to be excessive.

Benefits

An ICD is meant to treat heart rhythms that are dangerously rapid. It tracks your heart rate constantly and returns your heart to its usual heart rhythm. It’s like having a 24/7 emergency response team with you.

Related Articles

TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that affects the [...]

TRICHINOSIS

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trichinosis, also known as trichinellosis, is a parasitic infection caused by [...]

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological condition characterized by severe facial pain. [...]