What is a cardioverter defibrillator?
Lifesaving implantable heart resucitation device.
The ICD cardioverter defibrillator is an implantable defibrillator that can activate in case of tachycardia or other disruptions of the normal heart rhythm. Implantable defibrillators are generally used in patients with a known history of heart conditions that may be resolved with this device. Cardioverter defibrillators come in different styles, some of which use a minimally invasive procedure and have wires that directly contact the heart muscle, and others that are implantable by way of catheders but may not require the shock wires to touch the heart. Cardioverter defibrillators are also becoming more popular because they often don’t need more expensive implantation or opening of the chest cavity to install the device and/or its wiring. For people who may otherwise experience sudden cardiac arrest or an abnormal heart rhythm, this type of heart defibrillator offers options not available with hospital defibrillators or AEDs, since in each case a person has to be present to recognize the symptoms, apply the defibrillator, and activate it, whereas the cardioverter does this automatically and can sometimes slow down a heart that is going to quickly. .
Notes and Special Information
Special note: Cardioverter defibrillators cannot always save lives, and in some cases the issue may not be something a cardioverter can fix. Nothing on this site should be considered medical advice! Additionally, in end of life cases it may be advisable to have a doctor shut off the ICD defibrillator just prior to death in order to stop it from activating automatically and causing distress to family members.