ICD/CRT

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a microcomputer that is implanted under the skin of your upper chest area. It is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It monitors your heart rate and delivers therapy in the form of small electrical pulses. A cardiac resynchronization therapy implantable cardioverter defibrillator (CRT-D) is a type of specialized ICD used to treat heart failure.

Once implanted, an ICD detects your heart rhythm through one or more thin, insulated wires called leads, which are placed on or inside the heart muscle and attached to the device. The leads transmit your heart rate information to the device. CRT-Ds are a type of ICD that have an additional lead that attaches to the left ventricle. When an abnormal heart rhythm occurs, your CRT-D sends an electric shock to your heart muscle.

CRT-Ds can provide lower- or higher-energy therapy to treat heart failure, depending on the need.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a new treatment option for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) that involves the implantation of a biventricular pacemaker (BVP) capable of stimulating both ventricles simultaneously. It is particularly beneficial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the electrical signal spreads unevenly to the right and left sides of the heart, causing the heart to enlarge and pump less efficiently. In these patients, CRT can produce a more normal heartbeat, thereby boosting the heart’s working capacity.