Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)

An implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) is a small electronic device installed inside the chest to prevent sudden death from cardiac arrest due to life threatening abnormally fast heart rhythms (tachycardias). The ICD is capable of monitoring the heart rhythm. When the heart is beating normally, the device remains inactive.

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What Are the Risks of Having an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?

Unnecessary Electrical Pulses

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. These risks include:

• Swelling, bruising, or infection at the area where the ICD was placed

• Bleeding from the site where the ICD was placed

• Blood vessel, heart, or nerve damage

• A collapsed lung

• A bad reaction to the medicine used to make you sleep during the surgery

Other Risks

People who have ICDs may be at increased risk for heart failure. Heart failure is when your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. It's not known for sure whether an ICD increases the risk of heart failure or whether heart failure is just more common in people who need ICDs.

Although rare, an ICD may not work properly. This will prevent the device from correcting irregular heartbeats. If this happens, your doctor may be able to reprogram the device. If that doesn't work, the ICD may need to be replaced.

The longer you have an ICD, the more likely it may be that you’ll experience some of the related risks.