When is an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) indicated?
Studies have shown that there are people who are at risk for extremely fast heart rhythms. In general, patients with a heart muscle that has been damaged and is not able to pump effectively are at higher risk for rapid heart rhythms. The damage may be due to a heart attack, or some other disease process. There are also rare genetic conditions that may make a person at risk for life threatening rhythms. Some patients have already been diagnosed with these fast rhythms and have experienced a near death experience. Others may have an Electrophysiology Study to determine if the patient is prone to developing fast rhythms. Recent studies have shown that some cardiac diseases increase the risk of developing fast rhythms. Your cardiologist may recommend an ICD as prophylactic treatment in case you have a fast rhythm. An ICD is designed to continuously monitor your heart rhythm. If a dangerously fast heart rhythm is detected, the device will immediately treat the rhythm and deliver therapy to
