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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffAn implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) — a pager-sized device which is implanted in your chest — may reduce your risk of dying if your heart goes into a dangerous rhythm and 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.
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/icd/icd_all.html. Accessed Aug. 25, 2010.
- Epstein AE, et al. ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Circulation. 2008;117:e350.
- Arnsdorf MF, et al. Role of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for the secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 25, 2010.
- Eckstein J, et al. Necessity for surgical revision of defibrillator leads implanted long-term: Causes and management. Circulation. 2008;117:2727.
- Kleemann T, et al. Annual rate of transvenous defibrillation lead defects in implantable cardioverter-defibrillators over a period of >10 years. Circulation 2007;115:2474.
- Epstein AE, et al. Addendum to "Personal and public safety issues related to arrhythmias that may affect consciousness: Implications for regulation and physician recommendations: A medical/scientific statement from the American Heart Association and North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology." Circulation. 2007;115:1170.
- Vijgen J, et al. Consensus statement of the European Heart Rhythm Association: Updated recommendations for driving by patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Europace. 2009;11:1097.
- Lampert R, et al. HRS expert consensus statement on the management of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in patients nearing end of life or requesting withdrawal of therapy. Heart Rhythm. 2010;7:1008..
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