The body generates electrical impulses that cause the heart to beat. In some people, those electrical impulses don't happen in a normal pattern, which can cause the heart to beat too slowly, too fast or irregularly. A very fast heartbeat can lead to ventricular tachycardia, a potentially life-threatening condition. In patients who are at risk for ventricular tachycardia, doctors often recommend an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or ICD.
Disorders in the heart's electrical system can lead to arrhythmias, or an abnormal heart rhythm. Some arrhythmias can be life threatening and require an electrical shock to return the heart to a normal rhythm. Patients who are at risk for sudden cardiac death may require an implantable cardiac defibrillator or ICD, which can deliver a life-saving shock if the heart starts to beat too fast or in a chaotic pattern.
Atrial fibrillation causes the heart to beat out of rhythm. To get the heart beating normally again, sometimes the heart is 'shocked' into normal rhythm. The idea of shocking the heart may be intimidating, but it's actually a quick and painless procedure.
The procedure for implanting an ICD is often routine and relatively easy for the patient. The health care team will tell the patient how to prepare for surgery and what to expect during the procedure.
