Why implant a defibrillator

Nerve stimulators are among the many implantable technologies that have leapt onto the health-care market in full force.

Insertable cardiac monitors like the Reveal LINQ have replaced sometimes finicky stick-on patches as the most reliable option for patients with chronic heart conditions, and just two months ago, the FDA approved the first-ever long-term implantable continuous glucose-monitoring system for people with diabetes.

McMullan hopes that people will soon consider storing their medical information on encrypted RFID chips, and the group is also working on a way to make GPS-enabled chips available as an option for families to track relatives suffering from severe dementia—another use for the chips that poses both obvious benefits and legitimate concerns. At the same time as the technology is becoming more powerful, people are becoming more comfortable with the notion of implantables.

This shift, she says, is traceable from body modifications such as tattoos and piercings all the way up to the chips McMullan is developing. Plastic surgery is less taboo now. Yet for all of the implantable gadgets Americans use and the heaps of location-enabled gizmos we own, the first commercial device with both of these features will be significant. A teenager who brings her iPhone to the school bathroom with her can one day choose not to.

If visiting a physician to remove the chip in her hand requires similar parental permissions to other invasive medical procedures, well, then, we know how that episode of Black Mirror ends. The key to ensuring that RFID developments are used only as intended will be meaningful and active legislation developed to cut potential abuses off at the pass. In terms of workplace RFID implants, state legislatures are already behind. Since then, only five more have introduced similar bills.

If a slow heart rate, however, fails to supply the body with enough blood and oxygen, bradycardia is a severe health issue. Untreated bradycardia can lead to heart failure or sudden cardiac death. The only way to treat bradycardia long-term is to implant a pacemaker. A pacemaker is a small device that is implanted under the skin or chest muscle near the collarbone.

Your physician will give you detailed instructions on how to prepare for the surgery. Usually, they will recommend patients stop taking blood thinners several days before surgery. If you take other medication regularly, ask your physician if you should continue taking the medication leading up to your procedure. In addition, you should not eat for about 12 hours prior to the implantation. Implanting a pacemaker is a relatively simple surgery that lasts for two to four hours. Arrhythmia Tools and Resources.

Our online community of survivors and caregivers is here to keep you going no matter the obstacles. The American Heart Association recommends that before a patient is considered to be a candidate for an ICD, the arrhythmia in question must be life threatening and doctors have ruled out correctable causes of the arrhythmia, such as: Acute myocardial infarction heart attack Myocardial ischemia inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle Electrolyte imbalance and drug toxicity Because many people do not understand their underlying condition — such as heart failure or genetic predisposition for risk of sudden cardiac arrest — and because ICDs are used primarily to prevent sudden cardiac death, they in turn may not understand the benefits versus the limitations of having an ICD implanted.

Why do I need an ICD? Your doctor may recommend an ICD if you or your child is at risk of a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia because of having: Had a ventricular arrhythmia Had a heart attack Survived a sudden cardiac arrest Long QT syndrome Brugada syndrome A congenital heart disease or other underlying conditions for sudden cardiac arrest How is an ICD implanted?

How does an ICD work? It knows when the heartbeat is not normal and tries to return the heartbeat to normal. If your ICD has a pacemaker feature when your heartbeat is too slow, it works as a pacemaker and sends tiny electric signals to your heart. When your heartbeat is too fast or chaotic, it gives defibrillation shocks to stop the abnormal rhythm. It works 24 hours a day. What should I ask my doctor or nurse about living with an ICD?

Can I swim? Can I run? Can I have sex? Can I play video games and use wireless devices? What will the ICD feel like day to day? When can I expect a shock? Does the shock hurt? AHA Recommendation If you have an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, be aware of your surroundings and the devices that may interfere with its operation.