Implantable cardiac defibrillator
An ICD is a life-saving electronic device that stops the heart from beating too quickly. This fast heartbeat usually arises from an abnormal heart rhythm called a ‘tachyarrhythmia’.
What’s an ICD?
The ICD consists of two parts: a generator (battery) and one or more electrodes (wires). In a life-threatening situation, these electrodes can correct fast heart rhythms by carrying electrical impulses or even an electrical shock from the generator to your heart.
Modern ICD devices can also act as a pacemaker to stop your heart from beating too slowly.
What’s involved with an ICD?
At GenesisCare, your treatment starts with one focus. You. Everything we do is done to give the best experience possible through your treatment and beyond, to help you live your life as fully as possible.
Here’s an overview of what you can expect:
- It’s important not to eat or drink anything 6 hours before your procedure.
- If you have diabetes, you should talk to your Cardiologist about your food and insulin intake as these can affect your blood sugar levels.
- It is appropriate to discuss with your Cardiologist whether you should withhold any medicine you are taking (especially blood thinning medications) before this procedure.
- Your Cardiologist may prescribe a sedative before the procedure.
- A cardiac and blood pressure monitor will monitor your heart rate and blood pressure throughout.
- You’ll be given a local anaesthetic then the Cardiologist will make a small incision and create a pocket under the skin to hold the ICD.
- The ICD will then be placed just below your collarbone.
- The Cardiologist will then close the incision with sutures and apply a waterproof dressing.
- Once completed, you will return to the hospital ward where the pacing technician will test your ICD and your Cardiologist will review your progress before you’re discharged. Usually the next day.
Because it’s your life.
No-one likes being a patient. We help people through their health challenges, so they can live well beyond them and move on with their lives.
It does take a few weeks for the ICD wires to firmly attach inside the heart so during that time you will need to limit arm movement on the side of your defibrillator as well as avoid sudden jolting type movements. Our goal is to get you back to your normal routine as quickly as possible. Our goal is to get you back to your normal routine as quickly as possible.
Your dressing will usually be removed in a week and then a follow up appointment will be made for your to visit your cardiologist.
GenesisCare's Device Registry
GenesisCare’s national cardiology clinical quality registries aim to improve the quality of care provided to patients with cardiovascular disease.
The registries enable the collection and reporting of clinical data to identify patient outcomes and issues that may impede more successful results and ways to improve patient outcomes as well as benchmark our performance against national and international standards.
Further information is available in GenesisCare’s Cardiology Research Report
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