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If you have a cardiac arrest (see page 65) and your ICD doesn’t seem to have worked, you might need to have external defibrillation. This is when your heart is given an electric shock manually by someone using a device called a defibrillator. You may also need a procedure called cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- How Does An Icd Work?
- How Is An Icd fitted?
- Who Needs An ICD?
- How Do I Live with An ICD?
- Will My Mobile Phone Affect My ICD?
- Who Can I Talk to About My ICD?
- You Can Trust Our Health Information
- Researching Abnormal Heart Rhythms
An ICD is placed under the skin, usually in the space just below the collar bone (clavicle) to monitor your heart rate. Thin wires connect the ICD to the heart, where it's always checking your heart rate and rhythm. It monitors your heart rhythm through the electrodes. If an ICD notices a dangerous heart rhythm it can deliver one or more of the fol...
ICDs are inserted under local anaesthetic but with sedation, so you'll feel very sleepy. It can take anything from one hour to three or more hours to implant an ICD. The time it takes will depend on the type of device you are given. You'll often (but not always) need to stay overnight in hospital and your ICD will be checked thoroughly before you l...
You might need an ICD if: 1. you have already had a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythmand are at risk of having it again 2. you haven’t had a life-threatening heart rhythm, but tests show you are at risk of one in the future. This is usually because you have inherited faulty genes and may have a condition such as Cardiomyopathy, Long QT syndrom...
It's important to have regular follow-up appointments at your ICD clinic, so you can have your ICD checked. Your appointments may be every 3 to 12 months, depending on the type of ICD you have and if it has delivered any treatment. You’ll need to have follow-up appointments for the rest of your life. Some ICD checks may be done remotely with the in...
It’s ok to have a smartphone when you have an ICD, though care should be taken in case they contain magnetic material. It’s recommended that smartphones are kept at least 6 inches away from where your device is. Apple iPhone 12 models, including other products like iPads, contain extra magnets in their charging functions that could turn off ICDs. A...
It’s natural to feel worried about having an ICD fitted and it often helps to talk about your feelings with someone close to you or with a healthcare professional. You can use the following ways to get support for the emotional effects of having an ICD or heart and circulatory condition: 1. Talk to your GP about being referred for counselling or co...
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An appropriate shock is just that, appropriate. It means that your heart has gone into a dangerous arrhythmia and requires intervention to terminate it. This is where the ICD earns it’s worth and delivers a life saving shock. Inappropriate Shocks. An inappropriate shock is one that your ICD has delivered but was not actually required.
Aug 15, 2023 · You might need an ICD if you have a dangerously fast heartbeat called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. An ICD also may be recommended if you're at high risk of dangerous irregular heartbeats, usually because of a weak heart muscle. An ICD isn't the same as a pacemaker.
If the heart rate goes too fast in the ventricles, the ICD can either pace faster than the abnormal rhythm (called Anti-tachycardia pacing), or if necessary, deliver a shock to the heart muscle (called Cardioversion or Defibrillation).
Sep 1, 2023 · For patients who are at an increased risk of having a cardiac arrest, a permanent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), sometimes referred to simply as a defibrillator, can be implanted so that a shock can be quickly delivered if it is ever needed.
People also ask
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5 days ago · Living With Your Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) You may find living with an ICD scary, especially if you made the decision quickly due to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). You need to know that you are not alone or without support. Fortunately, research has shown that ICDs can extend life and improve quality of life.
