Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: Definition, Clinical Significance, and Overview
An Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator is a small cardiac device designed to detect and treat dangerous fast heart rhythms. It is a therapy and procedure used in electrophysiology and heart failure care to reduce risk from life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. It is most commonly used in patients with cardiomyopathy, prior myocardial infarction (MI), or inherited arrhythmia syndromes. It functions as continuous internal monitoring with the ability to deliver pacing or shocks when needed.