implantable cardioverter defibrillator


implantable cardioverter defibrillator

A defibrillator designed to treat a cardiac tachyarrhythmia directly. If a patient has a ventricular defibrillator and the device senses a ventricular rate that exceeds the programmed cut-off rate of the defibrillator, the device performs cardioversion/defibrillation. Alternatively, the device, if so programmed, may attempt to pace rapidly for a number of pulses, usually around 10, to attempt pace-termination of a ventricular tachycardia.