What is the implementation of an internal defibrillator?
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The implementation of an internal defibrillator is a technique that is usually performed under general anesthesia. Through an incision located on the left clavicle, a vein through which the electrode carrying two spirals, one on top and one in the middle thereof is introduced is located.
Next, the proximal end is connected to the generator including the battery and the circuit charged with operating the defibrillator, I being housed below the pectoral muscle.
Which patients are suitable for internal defibrillator?
The purpose of installing an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is to prevent sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation. In this situation, the heart and more specifically its left ventricular beats quickly, without form and surface, making it inefficient to send blood through the body.
It has been shown that the DAI prevents sudden death in patients with a compromised cardiac contraction and also have either had a myocardial infarction or have disease of the heart muscle that causes it to swell too. It is what we call primary prevention.
Secondary prevention involves implanting an ICD to prevent sudden death in patients who have already suffered an episode of atrial fibrillation or malignant ventricular arrhythmia. It is indicated in patients who have had myocardial infarction or who have certain heart disease.
What kind of life and what care should follow the patient after the surgery?
The limitation will be imposed by the underlying disease. In addition, after surgery, the surgical wound should heal in the first days until healing. The patient should avoid magnetic fields, because the defibrillator is a metal and a sensing circuit within device.
After implantation, the expert in Cardiac Surgery brochure delivers a patient which precautions to consider listed. Regularly once a year, the patient should go to consultation to review the device and check the battery.
What are the risks this intervention?
Today, the risks are minimal wherever performed by expert hands. Still, any intervention has risks that in any case are not always inferior to implant the device.
