How Does the Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator Work?
The defibrillator is a small electronic device that is implanted under the skin in the chest, with tiny wires seeded into the heart. The procedure does not require open heart surgery or a lengthy hospital stay. According to Dr. Gondi, “An ICD is a combination pacemaker and defibrillator. The device works as a pacemaker that detects when your heart is out of rhythm and sends electrical signals to regulate your heart rate. If the heart does not respond, then it works as a defibrillator to shock the heart back into rhythm. It also records and stores when it has responded to an irregular beat so your doctor can review your history.
