Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)

{"title":"Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)","url":"https:\/\/go.openathens.net\/redirector\/shalina.com?url=https:\/\/ebscosafe.smartimagebase.com\/view-item?ItemID=70909","id":"ANW10012","category":null,"therapy_area":["Cardiology"," Surgery"," Emergency Medicine"],"keywords":null,"description":"Your heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout your body. Rhythmic electrical impulses inside your heart cause its muscular walls to contract, ensuring your heart beats steadily. If problems occur with your hearts electrical system, you may develop an abnormal, potentially life-threatening heartbeat, called arrhythmia. Your doctor may want you to have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, to restore the hearts normal rhythm and prevent sudden cardiac death. During the procedure, your doctor will thread a small wire through a vein until it reaches your right ventricle. The wires continuously monitor the hearts rhythm. After verifying the wire is in the correct location and works properly, your doctor will attach the wire to the ICD generator. Then, your doctor will insert the ICD device under the skin of your chest below the collarbone. The battery-powered ICD constantly monitors your heartbeat using a computer. If a life threatening arrhythmia occurs, the ICD delivers an electrical shock to your heart resetting your heartbeat back to normal. The ICD can also be programmed to pace the heart and restore its natural rhythm."}