What is an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)?
Coronary heart disease is the single most common cause of death in the United States. Sudden death, which frequently stems from heart arrhythmias, is estimated to account for approximately half of all deaths from coronary heart disease. As a preventive measure, an ICD may be implanted in a patient’s chest to monitor heart rhythm. If the ICD subsequently detects a life-threatening arrhythmia, the ICD will deliver an electrical shock in order to restore a life-sustaining heart rhythm.
