Is there a difference between an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) and a pacemaker?
Yes, there is a difference between an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) and a pacemaker. While both can be used to help individuals who suffer from heart irregularities, they function very differently from one another. Overview of an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) An ICD has one real purpose and that is to save the life of someone who is experiencing a life-threatening arrhythmia. This device is larger than a pacemaker and implanted inside a person, but will only be activated when there is an emergency. The device works by emitting electronic pulses much like an external defibrillator would shock the heart into beating again at the correct rate when a cardiac arrhythmia is detected. Overview of a Pacemaker Unlike an ICD, a pacemaker helps the heart to continuously beat at a regular rate. It is a smaller device implanted inside a person but remains activated at all times. Product Liability and Medical Malpractice Claims Implanting a device in a heart patient is
