Defibrillator and Pacemaker Evaluations
Defibrillator and Pacemaker Evaluations
Many of our patients have implanted pacemakers, defibrillators, or automatic internal cardiac defibrillators (ICDs). The Lown Cardiovascular Group provides full evaluations and monitoring for these devices, including telephonic surveillance.
Multiple clinical trials support the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) for the prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure (HF). Of the patients who have an ICD implanted for primary prevention, approximately 20% to 35% will experience an appropriate shock within 1 to 3 years of the implant. Another one-third of patients will experience an inappropriate shock, defined as a shock delivered through the device for a non-life-threatening problem over the same period.
Purpose
While most people who have implantable cardiac devices like pacemakers, defibrillators, or ICDs can go home from the hospital within a day or so, the device will need regular monitoring. Among other things, your doctor will check to see if the device is working properly and sensing your heartbeat, how many shocks it has delivered, and how much power is left in the batteries.
Hospital Affiliations
The Lown Group is closely affiliated with the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Our Board-Certified physicians hold teaching positions at Harvard Medical School and faculty appointments at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In the event of hospitalization or invasive procedures, we will make every effort to admit our patients to the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where our physicians will see hospitalized patients daily to provide continuity between the hospital and clinical setting.