A defibrillator, or ICD, is an electronic device that is placed inside the chest to treat life threatening tachycardias. The device continuously monitors the heart. If a life threatening tachycardia is detected, the ICD paces or shocks the rhythm back to normal.

Who Should Receive an ICD?
Some patients diagnosed with life threatening ventricular arrhythmia are candidates for ICDS. ICDs are not designed to prevent life threatening rhythms, but can terminate them when they occur.

How are ICDs Designed?
An ICD consists of one or more leads and a defibrillator unit. The unit is a small titanium case containing a microchip computer, capacitor, and a battery.
The leads carry electrical signals between the heart and defibrillator. These leads help the unit monitor the heart rhythm.
The microchip computer runs the defibrillator, monitors the heart rhythm, reacts when tachycardias are present.

How are ICDs Implanted?
Impanting a defibrillator is similar to that of a pacemaker implantation.
In addtion, a dangerous rhythm is usually induced to make sure the ICD will detect and treat it properly.
The procedure will usually last 2-3 hours.