Implantable defibrillator
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When is an implantable defibrillator indicated?
An implantable defibrillator is advised for people who have an increased risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders. This may be the case if you have had:
- A previous cardiac arrest
- Severe heart disease or a weakened heart muscle
- Inherited conditions with a higher risk of heart rhythm disorders
- Certain types of heart failure
How does an implantable defibrillator work?
The defibrillator consists of a battery with electronic components and one or more electrodes that run to the heart. The device continuously detects the heart rhythm, corrects a rhythm that is too fast with electrical pulses and stops life-threatening rhythm disorders with a shock.
Some defibrillators also function as a pacemaker, providing extra impulses if the heart rate is too slow.
Implantation of the device
The defibrillator is implanted under local anaesthetic or light sedation. The device is inserted through a small incision, and the leads are guided to the heart through a blood vessel.
Living with an implantable defibrillator
You usually do not feel the defibrillator, except when it delivers a shock. Strong shocks can be briefly painful, but they are life-saving.
The device is checked regularly at the hospital. The battery typically lasts between five and ten years. Most people with a defibrillator can resume their normal daily activities.