Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a complex cardiac decive that combines a conventional pacemaker, a permanent heart rhythm analysis tool and a treatment unit comprised of two components: rapid anti-tachycardia pacing and the delivery of electrical shocks. The defibrillator must only treat dangerous cardiac rhythms that can lead to major symptoms such as lightheadedness, syncope, and especially sudden cardiac death (ventricular rhythm disorders), but without treating rhythm disorders that are not considered dangerous in the short term, such as supraventricular hythm disorders. For this, the defibrillator must have powerful algorithms that allow discrimination between arrhythmias, being sensitive so as not to miss a ventricular episode, and specific by treating only ventricular rhythm disorders.