Defibrillator

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a medical device that monitors your heart and manages heart rate when needed. It’s surgically placed under your skin and connects to your heart with thin wires (leads). The battery-powered device can deliver an electric shock to correct life-threatening arrhythmia and prevent sudden cardiac arrest. Overview What is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator? An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a medical device that’s surgically placed under the skin on your chest. It consists of a battery and thin wires called leads. The battery is about the size of a stopwatch and the leads go into your heart chambers to regulate your rhythm. The battery-powered device constantly tracks heart rate and rhythm. Its pulse generator delivers an electric shock when needed to correct arrhythmia. The leads carry the shock to your heart. ICDs are used to: • Correct • Prevent • Gather data about your heart’s function to help your healthcare providers make treatment recommendations. What’s the difference: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator vs. a pacemaker? An ICD is different than a Who needs an implantable cardioverter defibrillator? You may need an ICD if you have certain heart conditions that can’t be managed with other treatments. Conditions often treated with ICDs include: • • Certain types of • • • Previous sudden • • Who puts in an ICD? A How long do the batteries last in an ICD? ICD batteries last about seven years. Your h...

If you've ever watched a TV medical drama, chances are you've seen someone shocked back to life by a health care provider who yells, "Clear" before delivering a jolt of electricity to the person's chest to get the heart beating again. The machine being used is called a defibrillator, and its use isn't limited to a hospital setting. Devices called automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be used at home and in schools and are also found in a number of public places. These lightweight, portable devices are available without a prescription. AEDs are used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest. This usually occurs when a disruption in the heart's electrical activity causes a dangerously fast heartbeat (ventricular tachycardia) or a fast and irregular heartbeat (ventricular fibrillation). Either of these irregular heart rhythms keeps the heart from pumping effectively and can cause it to stop. When this happens, the brain and other vital organs don't get the blood and oxygen they need. This requires treatment within minutes to prevent death. The sooner the heart's rhythm is restored, the greater the chance there won't be permanent damage to the brain and other organs. If an AED is near someone having ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, a bystander in a public place or a family member can use it to jolt the heart back to a regular rhythm. Using the AED could possibly save a life. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after cardiac arrest can keep blood f...

Defibrillation can be a lifesaver for someone in cardiac arrest by using an electrical charge to stop your heart’s abnormal rhythm. This allows your heart to start a normal rhythm again. Defibrillation isn’t a guarantee of survival. Cardiac arrest is still fatal for many and survivors often need different types of therapy to recover. Overview Getting your heart back to a normal rhythm with defibrillation. What is defibrillation? Defibrillation is the use of an electrical current to help your heart return to a normal rhythm when a potentially fatal Defibrillation can help with: • • Who needs to have defibrillation? Someone with the specific types of arrhythmias named above may need defibrillation. If they’re in a hospital or a place that has an automated external defibrillator, someone can help them. But those who are at a high risk of a potentially fatal heart rhythm need to have a defibrillator on their person at all times. Personal defibrillators Shocks from personal defibrillators can range from painless to pain that feels like someone kicked your chest. People at risk for a dangerous arrhythmia may use: • A vest-like wearable cardioverter defibrillator. You put this on under your clothes so the sensors touch your skin. They can detect an abnormal rhythm and send a shock when you need one. • An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) watches for arrhythmias and corrects them with the right amount of shock you need. While it’s similar to a Why is defibrillation used...

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) An ICD works to control the heartbeat by delivering shocks to the heart when the device detects an irregular heartbeat. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a small battery-powered device placed in the chest to detect and stop irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). An ICD continuously monitors the heartbeat and delivers electric shocks, when needed, to restore a regular heart rhythm. You might need an ICD if you have a dangerously fast heartbeat that keeps your heart from supplying enough blood to the rest of your body (such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) or if you are at high risk of such a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), usually because of a weak heart muscle. An ICD differs from a pacemaker — an implantable device that can prevent dangerously slow heartbeats. Types An ICD is a type of cardiac therapy device. There are two basic types: • A traditional ICD is implanted in the chest, and the wires (leads) attach to the heart. The implant procedure requires invasive surgery. • A subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) is another option that's implanted under the skin at the side of the chest below the armpit. It's attached to an electrode that runs along the breastbone. An S-ICD is larger than a traditional ICD but doesn't attach to the heart. Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) A subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) is a less invasive alternative to a traditi...

You may find living with an ICD scary, especially if you made the decision quickly due to sudden Fortunately, research has shown that ICDs can extend life and improve quality of life. You may live more confidently with an ICD by understanding more about the conditions that led to implantation, the device itself and what to expect from having it. Learn more about living with your ICD Taking medications Medications are part of your treatment plan that includes your ICD, so take medications exactly as instructed. • Medications work with your ICD and help your heart pump regularly. • Keep records of what medications you take and when. Download a • Learn more about Understanding and maintaining your device • Make sure you understand your device and all instructions. • Your ICD should be checked regularly to find out how the wires are working, how the battery is doing, and how your condition and any external devices have affected the ICD’s performance. • Your health care professional may check your ICD several times a year by office visit, over the phone or through an Internet connection. • ICD batteries last 5 to 7 years. • Your doctor uses a special analyzer to detect the first warning that the batteries are running down, before you can detect any changes yourself. • Eventually your ICD or battery may need to be replaced in a surgical procedure. The replacement procedure is less involved than the original implantation procedure. Your healthcare team can explain it to you. • Fe...

What is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator? An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a small electronic device connected to the heart. It is used to continuously monitor and help regulate potentially fast and life-threatening electrical problems with the heart. A transvenous or “traditional” ICD, about the size of a stopwatch, is implanted under the skin just below the collarbone. It consists of a pulse generator and wires, called leads. The pulse generator contains the battery and a tiny computer. One or more lead wires connect the pulse generator to specific locations in the heart. The ICD responds to irregular life-threatening heart rhythms from the lower chambers of the heart with pacing that corrects a fast rhythm and promotes a normal heartbeat, or a shock (defibrillation) that resets the heart rhythm to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. An ICD also records and stores information about your heart rhythm and therapies delivered by the ICD for your doctor to review. Most people are unaware when the ICD is pacing the heart. But, a defibrillation shock is described by many as feeling like a "kick in the chest." An ICD can also be programmed to work as a basic pacemaker as needed. Sometimes after a shock is delivered, the heart may beat too slowly. The ICD has a "back-up" pacemaker, which can stimulate the heart to beat faster until the normal heart rhythm returns. The ICD can act as a pacemaker any time the heart rate drops below a preset rate. For those pa...

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What is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator? An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a small electronic device connected to the heart. It is used to continuously monitor and help regulate potentially fast and life-threatening electrical problems with the heart. A transvenous or “traditional” ICD, about the size of a stopwatch, is implanted under the skin just below the collarbone. It consists of a pulse generator and wires, called leads. The pulse generator contains the battery and a tiny computer. One or more lead wires connect the pulse generator to specific locations in the heart. The ICD responds to irregular life-threatening heart rhythms from the lower chambers of the heart with pacing that corrects a fast rhythm and promotes a normal heartbeat, or a shock (defibrillation) that resets the heart rhythm to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. An ICD also records and stores information about your heart rhythm and therapies delivered by the ICD for your doctor to review. Most people are unaware when the ICD is pacing the heart. But, a defibrillation shock is described by many as feeling like a "kick in the chest." An ICD can also be programmed to work as a basic pacemaker as needed. Sometimes after a shock is delivered, the heart may beat too slowly. The ICD has a "back-up" pacemaker, which can stimulate the heart to beat faster until the normal heart rhythm returns. The ICD can act as a pacemaker any time the heart rate drops below a preset rate. For those pa...

Defibrillation can be a lifesaver for someone in cardiac arrest by using an electrical charge to stop your heart’s abnormal rhythm. This allows your heart to start a normal rhythm again. Defibrillation isn’t a guarantee of survival. Cardiac arrest is still fatal for many and survivors often need different types of therapy to recover. Overview Getting your heart back to a normal rhythm with defibrillation. What is defibrillation? Defibrillation is the use of an electrical current to help your heart return to a normal rhythm when a potentially fatal Defibrillation can help with: • • Who needs to have defibrillation? Someone with the specific types of arrhythmias named above may need defibrillation. If they’re in a hospital or a place that has an automated external defibrillator, someone can help them. But those who are at a high risk of a potentially fatal heart rhythm need to have a defibrillator on their person at all times. Personal defibrillators Shocks from personal defibrillators can range from painless to pain that feels like someone kicked your chest. People at risk for a dangerous arrhythmia may use: • A vest-like wearable cardioverter defibrillator. You put this on under your clothes so the sensors touch your skin. They can detect an abnormal rhythm and send a shock when you need one. • An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) watches for arrhythmias and corrects them with the right amount of shock you need. While it’s similar to a Why is defibrillation used...

You may find living with an ICD scary, especially if you made the decision quickly due to sudden Fortunately, research has shown that ICDs can extend life and improve quality of life. You may live more confidently with an ICD by understanding more about the conditions that led to implantation, the device itself and what to expect from having it. Learn more about living with your ICD Taking medications Medications are part of your treatment plan that includes your ICD, so take medications exactly as instructed. • Medications work with your ICD and help your heart pump regularly. • Keep records of what medications you take and when. Download a • Learn more about Understanding and maintaining your device • Make sure you understand your device and all instructions. • Your ICD should be checked regularly to find out how the wires are working, how the battery is doing, and how your condition and any external devices have affected the ICD’s performance. • Your health care professional may check your ICD several times a year by office visit, over the phone or through an Internet connection. • ICD batteries last 5 to 7 years. • Your doctor uses a special analyzer to detect the first warning that the batteries are running down, before you can detect any changes yourself. • Eventually your ICD or battery may need to be replaced in a surgical procedure. The replacement procedure is less involved than the original implantation procedure. Your healthcare team can explain it to you. • Fe...