Download Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)

Identification and travel
You will receive a temporary pacemaker identification card before
leaving the hospital, which will be replaced by a permanent
laminated card in due course. An ICD may set off security devices in
airports and you should show your card to security rather than pass
through the security devices, so that you can have an appropriate
scan performed.
Clinics
HCV Balwyn
481 Whitehorse Road
T (03) 9813 7900
HCV Lilydale
475 Swansea Road
T (03) 9735 4288
HCV Berwick
St John of God Hospital T (03) 8794 2200
HCV Mulgrave
Churchill Consulting Suites
The Valley Private Hospital
T (03) 8793 3800
HCV Bundoora
Suites 8-10, 20 Scholar Drive
T (03) 8467 5900
HCV East Melbourne
Level 5, 126 Wellington Parade
T (03) 8843 5700
HCV Heidelberg
Suite 1, Warringal Hospital
216 Burgundy Street
T (03) 9455 4800
HCV Pakenham
Lakeside Square Medical
Precinct
Level 2, 2-9 Village Way
T (03) 8793 3800
HCV Parkville
Suite 22, Melbourne Private
Medical Centre, Royal Parade
T (03) 9813 7950
HCV Langwarrin
Suites 1-2, 35 CranbourneFrankston Road
T (03) 8769 5800
Disclaimer: This brochure has been prepared by Heart Care Victoria for informational
purposes only and is not medical advice. All care has been taken to ensure the accuracy
of information, however, this information may be changed, improved or updated
without notice.
www.heartcarevictoria.com.au
Implantable Cardioverter
Defibrillator (ICD)
Patient Information
Implantable Cardioverter
Defibrillator (ICD)
What is it?
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator
(ICD) is an electronic device that
prevents your heart from beating too
quickly as a result of an abnormal heart
rhythm known as a tachyarrhythmia. The
ICD consists of two parts: a generator
containing the battery, capacitators
and electronic circuits, and one or more
insulated electrodes.
The ICD monitors your heart rhythm
continuously and can detect abnormal
fast heart rhythms and deliver rapid
a burst of impulses to your heart or a
shock to bring the heart rhythm back
to normal. There is also provision for
stimulation of your heart to prevent
abnormally slow heart rhythms as well,
thus acting like a standard pacemaker.
Preparation
An ICD may be implanted using general anaesthesia, or conscious
sedation. Regardless do not eat or drink anything for six hours prior
to the procedure. If you have diabetes, you should talk to your
cardiologist about your food and insulin intake at the time of the
procedure which could affect your blood sugar level. You should
also discuss with your cardiologist the need to alter any other of
your medications, in particular blood thinning medications such as
Warfarin.
The area of the left chest wall beneath the collar bone may
require skin preparation such as shaving and cleaning prior to ICD
implantation. This helps prevent infection. During the procedure
an ECG and blood pressure monitor will watch your heart rate
and monitor, as you lie on the table in the cardiac catheterisation
laboratory. Whether the procedure is performed under conscious
sedation or a general anaesthetic, local anaesthetic is usually
injected in the area of the operation. Antibiotics are given before
and after the procedure to prevent infection.
The cardiologist makes a 5-10cm incision to create a pocket for
the generator and to access a suitable vein to pass one or more
electrodes into the heart using x-ray control. The cardiologist may
choose to test the device during the procedure by delivering a
shock to the heart and the level of your sedation will be adjusted
appropriately to allow you to tolerate this. The cardiologist will then
close the incision with sutures and apply a dressing directly over
the area. You will then return to the hospital ward and remain in
hospital overnight and the next morning a technician will check
your ICD before discharge. Simple generator replacements may be
done as a day case.
Risks of ICD implantation
There is a 2% chance of one or more of the following occurring during
implantation
• Collapsed lung
• Bleeding/bruising
• Infection
• Lead detachment
• Blood clots in veins
With a remote possibility of heart attack, stroke or death following
the procedure
You will be instructed as to appropriate care of the wound
following discharge from hospital, and the dressing will be
waterproof. If you notice any problems with the healing of
the wound you must contact your cardiologist immediately
particularly if there is any redness, swelling or pain around the
incision site, fever or ooze/bleeding from the site.
Activities
Since it takes a few weeks for the ICD electrodes to firmly attach
themselves inside the heart, it is recommended that you limit
arm movement on the side of the pacemaker implantation to
below shoulder activities for the first two weeks.
Depending on the circumstances, you may not be allowed to
drive a motor vehicle for up to six months after implantation and
you should discuss this with your cardiologist.
Home appliances
Any electrical appliance at home that is in good working order is
safe to use with your ICD. However caution should be exercised
with strong magnetic fields (eg. arc welding) or unshielded
ignition systems as they may activate the ICD unnecessarily or
stop pacing if your heart beat is dependent on pacing from the
ICD for most of the time.
The use of diathermy during surgery may affect your ICD and
you should discuss any proposal for surgical operations with your
cardiologist.
Mobile phones may be safely used on the opposite side of the body
to the ICD.