ICDs - home page (Implantable cardioverter defibrillators) (Guidelines)

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INTRODUCTION
Due to the increasing survival rates and advances in cardiac disease, there is a growing number of the general population who are living with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (eg. ICD or CRT-D).

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D‘s) are implantable devices that are fitted in the same way as pacemakers and used to treat life threatening heart rhythm disturbances – ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.  The ICD/CRT-D constantly monitors the heart rhythm and if it senses one of these abnormal rhythms, it delivers an electrical impulse or shock to return the heart back to normal. An ICD/CRT-D can therefore prevent sudden death.

As the numbers of these devices are increasing on a daily basis, it has been recognised that the health professionals within primary and secondary care, alongside the Scottish Ambulance Service, require further support in the management of these people.

ICDs - Acute management

ICDs - Deactivation and end of life management