Implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Certain types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrythmias) are especially dangerous. They can lead to heart attack and sudden cardiac death.

At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, our cardiologists can treat those at high risk with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. This life-saving device shocks your heart when it detects dangerous arrythmias.

What is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator?

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are devices similar to pacemakers. They are implanted in your chest, where they continuously monitor your heart rhythms. If they sense a dangerous, abnormal heart rhythm (arrythmia) they immediately deliver a life-saving electric shock. ICDs can significantly decrease your risk of dying from sudden cardiac arrest.

The device records and remembers every time you experience an arrhythmia. Your doctor can review this record to help determine how often and how severe the arrythmias are. The main part of the device is called a pulse generator and it’s about the size of a pocket watch. Your doctor inserts this into your chest below your collarbone. Then they thread wires from the pulse generator through a vein into your heart.

Conditions treated with implantable cardioverter defibrillators

Adults and children who are at high risk for a life-threatening arrythmia may benefit from an ICD. Studies found that ICDs are 99% effective at detecting and stopping potentially fatal heart rhythms. Having dangerous arrythmias – including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation

– is the main qualification for getting an ICD. An ICD may also help people with other heart conditions, including:

• Congenital heart disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart attack
• Heart failure

Implantable cardioverter side effects

Your provider can place an ICD in your chest without open heart surgery. Doctors implant the device through a small incision. Then they use a special type of X-ray, called fluoroscopy, to guide placement of the wires from the device through a vein and into your heart.

Any surgery has potential risks. Because ICD placement is a minimally invasive procedure, those risks are lower. Surgical risks include:

• Blood clots
• Infection
• Reaction to anesthesia

After you receive an ICD, you may be at risk of increased irregular heart rhythms. The device can also occasionally deliver a shock when your heart doesn’t need it. Your doctor works with you and continues to check on the device and fine-tune its programming.

Related conditions

Arrythmia

Congenital heart defects

Heart attack

Heart failure

Sudden cardiac death