Basic information on the implantable cardioverter-defibrilator (ICD)

Przemysław Stolarz

ISSN: 1505-8409

Przewodnik Lekarza/Guide for GPs

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7/2007
vol. 10

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abstract:

Basic information on the implantable cardioverter-defibrilator (ICD)

Przemysław Stolarz

Przew Lek 2007;7:39-45

Online publish date: 2007/09/21

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Implantation of an ICD creates new clinical problems: the patient and his family should be informed about the principles of ICD functioning, situations with need emergent medical intervention and methods of basic life support. The patient must be equipped with standard ICD documentation (patient and implant identification card). Family doctors should know when their patient with an ICD must be directed to a specialist medical centre (in case of electrical storm, false sensing, loss of capture, local inflammation), which antiarrhythmic drugs are useful and which should be avoided. Some medical procedures, such as NMR, diathermy, high-energy radiotherapy and electroacupuncture, may be harmful for the ICD and should be avoided.

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