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Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
Your doctor may have told you that
you need an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Now, you
and your family probably have some questions and concerns about
the ICD. This page can help answer many of your questions.
What is an ICD?
An ICD is a small electronic device
that's implanted inside the body. The device continuously monitors
your heartbeat. If it senses a dangerously rapid heart rhythm, it
delivers one or more pulses or shocks to the heart and restores
a more normal rhythm.
Why is the ICD Important?
You may be given an ICD if you have
had a cardiac arrest or if you have a rapid heart rhythm problem
that could lead to cardiac arrest. (During cardiac arrest, the heart
stops pumping blood to the body. If left untreated, cardiac arrest
can lead to death.)
Even though it is not a cure for your heart rhythm problem, the ICD can save your life by quickly bringing a dangerously rapid heart rhythm under control. Because it is a life-saving
aid, having an ICD may give you more freedom to participate in activities you enjoy.
How the Heart Works
Before discussing the details of the
ICD, it helps to understand how the heart works.
The Heart as a Pump
The heart is a muscular, hollow organ that
constantly pumps blood throughout the body.
The heart is made up of four compartments,
or chambers. There are two chambers on the "left side"
and two on the "right side." The upper chamber on each
side, called an atrium (plural: atria),
receives and
collects blood. The lower chamber on each side, called a ventricle,
pumps blood.
The four
heart chambers work together to contact and pump blood. As it circulates, blood delivers oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
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