Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
Advanced Protection from Life-Threatening Heart Rhythms
If you have risky heart arrhythmias, our electrophysiologists at Providence Heart Institute of Spokane offer advanced devices that can help. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) monitors your heart, responding to dangerously fast heart rates to restore normal rhythm – and even save your life.
Treatment Overview
An ICD is a small battery-powered device that’s placed in the chest to detect and interrupt irregular heartbeats, also called arrhythmias. Though many ICDs are also pacemakers, IDCs are more advanced; they can send electric shocks to the heart when needed to stop irregular heartbeats and even prevent cardiac arrest.
ICD placement requires minor surgery, but most procedures are minimally invasive, using local anesthesia. In the procedure, your doctor will make a small cut in your chest to place the ICD just below the collarbone and thread wires called leads through blood vessels until they reach the heart.
The entire procedure can take up to two hours. Most patients stay in the hospital at least overnight for recovery and to ensure the device works, but they return to regular activities in a few days.
You can expect your ICD’s battery to last 5 to 7 years. Battery replacement requires a minor surgery at one of our many outpatient locations throughout the region.
What to Expect
With any heart procedure, it helps to know what you can expect in advance. We’re here to guide you before, during and after your procedure – answering any questions, helping you prepare for surgery and recovery, explaining potential risks and offering whatever support you need along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your doctor will confirm if you are a candidate for an ICD based on your current condition and other health factors. You may need an ICD if:
- You’ve had previous episodes of sudden cardiac arrest or ventricular fibrillation, a serious type of rapid arrhythmia.
- You had a heart attack and are at high risk for sudden cardiac death.
- You have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with a thickened heart muscle that makes it more difficult for the heart to function.
- You’ve had at least one episode of ventricular tachycardia, which causes the heart to beat too fast.
Both pacemakers and ICDs are implanted devices that help manage arrhythmias, commonly known as heart rhythm issues. The implantation procedure for these devices is similar, but they serve different purposes.
A pacemaker helps correct slower heart rates, while an ICD detects faster, life-threatening heart rates. In response to abnormal heart rhythms, a pacemaker uses low-energy electrical impulses to keep the heart rate steady. An ICD is slightly more complex and delivers a high-energy shock to reset dangerous heart rhythms. It can also act like a pacemaker when needed, delivering low-energy pacing.
For a period after your procedure, you may need to avoid heavy lifting and activities that could put pressure on the area where your ICD was implanted. Your care team will let you know when it’s safe to return to normal activities.
Some devices with strong magnetic fields can interfere with ICD function. Always tell healthcare providers that you have an ICD before undergoing medical tests or procedures, and ask your care team about any precautions related to electronics, equipment or travel.