Transvenous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Traditional

Overview: A transvenous (through a vein), or traditional, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a device implanted in your chest. It provides shocks to stop, or in some cases prevent, certain dangerous arrhythmias. 

 

Background

A transvenous, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a small battery-powered electronic device, about the size of a stopwatch, connected to the heart. ICDs are used to stop dangerous arrhythmias, especially ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). Some types of transvenous ICDs can also act as pacemakers.

Bardy, G. H., Hofer, B., Johnson, G., Kudenchuk, P. J., Poole, J. E., Dolak, G. L., Gleva, M., Mitchell, R., & Kelso, K. (1993, April). Implantable transvenous cardioverter-defibrillators. PubMed, 87(4), 1152-1168. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.87.4.1152

 

HCMA 6/2021