Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Side Effects

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) devices improve survival rates in people with serious heart arrhythmias or who are at risk for these disorders. ICDs are very safe and have few side effects.

Features

• The ICD is similar to a pacemaker, although larger. It is implanted under the skin, usually in the upper chest but sometimes in the abdomen. The ICD is connected to the heart by thin electrodes that pass through veins between the implant and the heart.

Function

• The ICD monitors heart rhythm and provides corrective low-energy electrical pulses when necessary. It also is able to correct more serious and life-threatening arrhythmias than pacemakers can by applying higher-energy shocks called defibrillation shocks.

Defibrillation Effects

• The patient cannot feel low-energy pulses, but the defibrillation shocks are unpleasant. They can be painful and feel like a kick in the chest. Sometimes the patient feels a series of shocks.

Psychological Complications

• Defibrillation shocks can lead to anxiety about the next occurrence. A study published in a 2004 issue of Clinical Cardiology found that panic disorders and agoraphobia are common effects of ICD therapy, particularly in patients who experience two or more defibrillation shocks yearly.

Physical Side Effects

• Physical side effects include discomfort at the ICD site and, rarely, infection. People may feel self-conscious because the ICD usually can be seen under the skin; the accompanying scar is about three inches long.

Prevention/Solution

• The physician may be able to locate the ICD in a less-noticeable area to reduce cosmetic issues. Support groups are available to help patients deal with anxiety about defibrillation shocks.