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.