Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
An ICD is very effective at detecting and stopping certain life-threatening arrhythmias. An ICD can work better than drug therapy at preventing sudden cardiac arrest, depending on the cause of the arrest.
- What Is an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?
- Who Needs an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?
- How Does an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Work?
- What To Expect After Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Surgery
- What Are the Risks of Having an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?
- How Is an Aneurysm Treated?
- How Will an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Affect My Lifestyle?
- Key Points ICD
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What To Expect After Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Surgery
Expect to stay in the hospital 1 to 2 days so your health care team can check your heartbeat and make sure your implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is working properly.
You’ll need to arrange for a ride home from the hospital because you won’t be able to drive for at least a week while you recover from the surgery.
For a few days to weeks after the surgery, you may have pain, swelling, or tenderness in the area where your ICD was placed. The pain usually is mild, and over-the-counter medicines can help relieve it. Talk to your doctor before taking any pain medicines.
Your doctor may ask you to avoid vigorous activities and heavy lifting for about a month after ICD surgery. Most people return to their normal activities within a few days of having the surgery.
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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. 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.