IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATORS

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is increasingly used to protect patients at high risk of fatal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The success of ICDs in terminating ventric ular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) has led to wid espread acceptance and an increasing number of device implant.(41,61) The emergency physician must be prepared to evaluate and treat patient s presenting to the emergency department (ED) with complaints related to the device. Patients with ICDs are at high risk of cardiac arrhythm ias, and almost all of them have cardiac disease, thus complicating th eir ED evaluation.