Defibrillator Implantation & Management

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator, commonly called an ICD, is a small device that monitors and regulates the rhythm of the heart. An ICD may be used to care for certain types of arrhythmias. An arrhythmia is an abnormality in the rhythm of the heart, which can be harmful or fatal if not properly treated.

In this procedure, a small device called an electrical impulse generator is implanted in the chest to monitor and regulate the rhythm of the heart. When the device detects a certain type of irregular heartbeat, called an arrhythmia, the impulse generator sends electrical impulses through one or more wire leads to the heart muscle. These impulses are designed to correct the heart’s rhythm.