ICD

[NAC1]

Dear all,

I have left ventricular EJection fraction of 25 pc and AF with weak Right ventricle

I am considering ICD defribrillator. Does anyone have experience of ICD implant procedure and use please?

[BobD Volunteer]

My understanding is that ICDs are used where a person's heart stops for long periods. I have met patients with them and they dread the device cutting in because of the violent shock it gives.

[JonathanPittsCrick]

The implant procedure is generally done under local anaesthetic and either as a day case or just one night stay if done towards the end of the day. You should be back in action, apart from not moving the arm too much, after 2 days.

One of the main problems with having weak ventricles is that a sudden minor arrhythmia occurring at random could make the heart go into ventricular fibrillation, a cardiac arrest, resulting in you dying "by accident" when your heart is actually still good enough for you to lead a fairly normal life. The ICD prevents this by giving the heart an automatic shock, restoring normal rhythm.

As BobD says, the shock can be quite unpleasant if it gets triggered in the wrong situation (i.e. when you are NOT having a cardiac arrest) but this is mostly avoided by careful adjustment of the settings. When used appropriately most people hardly notice the shock as they are already going unconscious. Anyway it's probably better than being dead! – by the way, it's easy to switch them off if you later decide that's what you want...

The ICD can also act a a pacemaker to smooth out the irregular AF rhythm, especially in conjunction with beta-blocker medication, but it would need to be a bi-ventricular type (called CRTD) to do this efficiently.

[NAC1 in reply to JonathanPittsCrick]

Thank you so much for taking the time and rouble. That is very informative

Nigel

[nymima01]

My mother has a pacemaker and my husband has a defribbilator. (Sp). My mother has had a pacemaker for over 8 yrs now and never had a shock that she knows of. My husband has had the debribulator for almost 2 yrs and has never received a shock yet. He has cardiomyopathy and a weakness in the heart from a heart attack years ago. My neighbor of many years has one and I’ve never heard him complain about it. I know it helps more than anything. I believe my mother would be gone by now if it wasn’t for her ICD, as her heart beat was going so low she was passing out. My husband was more uncomfortable health-wise before he had his implant. Now he doesn’t have to worry so much. I hope my experiences help you to make a decision.

[NAC1 in reply to nymima01]

Thanks for this