Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition Why it's done Risks

How you prepare What you can expect Results

Definition

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) — a pager-sized device which is implanted in your chest like a pacemaker — may reduce your risk of dying if your heart stops beating (cardiac arrest). You may need an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator if you have a dangerously fast heartbeat (ventricular tachycardia) or a chaotic heartbeat that makes it so your heart can't supply enough blood to the rest of your body (ventricular fibrillation).

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators work by detecting and stopping dangerous, abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias). An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator continuously monitors your heartbeat and delivers electrical shocks to restore a normal heart rhythm when necessary.

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Why it's done

RELATED

• Heart arrhythmias
• Atrial fibrillation
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW)
• Tachycardia
• Sick sinus syndrome
• Bradycardia
• Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
• Automated external defibrillators: Do you need an AED?
• Pacemaker