What Are the Risks of Having an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?
The most common problem with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) is that they can sometimes give electrical pulses or shocks that aren’t needed. A damaged wire or a very fast heart rate due to extreme physical activity may trigger unnecessary pulses. Unnecessary pulses also may occur if you forget to take your medicines. Children tend to be more physically active than adults, and younger people who have ICDs are more likely to receive unnecessary pulses than older people. Pulses delivered too often or at the wrong time can damage the heart or trigger an irregular, sometimes dangerous heartbeat. They also can be painful and emotionally upsetting. If this occurs, your doctor can reprogram your ICD or prescribe medicines so the unnecessary pulses occur less often. Risks Related to Surgery Although rare, some ICD risks are linked to the surgery used to place the device.
