The patient was implanted with the AICD making it possible for him to return to a somewhat normal lifestyle. Generally, defibrillators are a costlier method to correct irregular heart beats, yet studies prove they are more beneficial. About the size of a deck of cards, the AICD is usually implanted in the chest with electrodes connected to the lower and upper heart chambers. These electrodes monitor the rhythms of both chambers, allowing the device to detect arrhythmias that are life-threatening. The Ventac AV is designed to overdrive pace or provide a corrective shock to the heart converting the arrhythmia to a normal rhythm.
Patients can often feel the corrective shock, which can be quite uncomfortable.
However, episodes of detection, correction and post-event monitoring last only a few seconds and the result is a saved life. In addition, the device can record arrhythmic events and how the heart responded. The recorded events are accessed with the help of a pacemaker programmer and provides valuable diagnostic information. The device is expected to have a useful life of five to seven years.