Internal Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD)

​An implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD) is a small device that is used to help control a heart rhythm that is too fast (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation).

• An implanted cardiac defibrillator is surgically placed into the chest (under the skin) with its wires carefully placed on one or both ventricles.

An ICD senses the heart rhythm. If the ICD senses ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, it will deliver a small electrical shock to change the heartbeat back to a normal rhythm. 

• See how an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) can help your heart pump blood better (opens in new window) »
• See how cardiac resynchronization therapy can help your heart pump blood better (opens in new window) »