What are the side effects of a defibrillator?

Risks
  • Infection at the implant site.
  • Swelling, bleeding or bruising.
  • Blood vessel damage from ICD leads.
  • Bleeding around the heart, which can be life-threatening.
  • Blood leaking through the heart valve (regurgitation) where the ICD lead is placed.
  • Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
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What is the most common complication of defibrillator?

The major lead complications were insulation defects (56%), lead fractures (12%), loss of ventricular capture (11%), abnormal lead impedance (10%), and sensing failure (10%). Patients with lead defects were younger and more often female.
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How long can a person live with a defibrillator?

Summary: Most patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy who have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) now live more than seven years and those ICD patients with hereditary heart disease can live for decades, according to new research.
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Does a defibrillator damage your heart?

Abstract. Sufficiently strong defibrillation shocks will cause temporary or permanent damage to the heart. Weak defibrillation shocks do not cause any damage to the heart but also do not defibrillate.
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How do you feel after defibrillation?

You will also likely feel fatigued and may have chest soreness and pain from skin burns after defibrillation. Your care team will treat your pain as needed. Ask your doctor before taking any pain medication at home and only take pain medication as directed.
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Are there any Side Effects for Defibrillation of the Heart?



How long does it take to recover from having a defibrillator?

Full recovery from the procedure normally takes about 4 to 6 weeks. Your doctor will provide you with a complete set of instructions to follow once your procedure is completed. Always consult your doctor for specific information or to ask any additional questions you might have.
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What should you avoid with a defibrillator?

Don't dangle headphones round your neck or within 3cm (1in) of your ICD. Don't put mobile or cordless phones, or MP3 players within 15cm (6in) of your ICD. Don't wear magnetic fasteners near your ICD. Don't use a TENS machine for pain relief, and keep electric-pulse body-toning tools below your stomach.
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Which is better pacemaker or defibrillator?

The pacemaker is the steady hand guiding your heart through each day, while the defibrillator is the guardian angel standing ready to keep you safe if your heartbeat becomes dangerously irregular. Whether you need a pacemaker, an ICD, or both, Oklahoma Heart Hospital is here to help.
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How many times can a person be shocked with a defibrillator?

In short; a person can be shocked as many times as necessary, however, with each shock that fails to return the heart to a normal rhythm, the chances of survival decreases.
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Can you drive with a defibrillator?

Patients who have received an ICD for primary prevention should be restricted from driving a private motor vehicle for 1 week to allow recovery from implantation of the device. Patients receiving ICDs for secondary prevention should be restricted from driving for 6 months.
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Can you live 20 years with a defibrillator?

Living with a Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator ICD. Pacemakers and ICDs generally last 5 to 7 years or longer, depending on usage and the type of device. In most cases, you can lead a normal life with an ICD.
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What is the 5 year survival rate of an internal defibrillator?

One- and 5-year implantable cardioverter-defibrillator survival rates are 92% and 68%, respectively, and are 88% and 54% for cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators.
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Can you drink alcohol when you have a defibrillator?

We advise ICD patients who do not consume alcohol to continue abstinence and not consume alcohol solely for the potential cardiovascular disease risk reduction.
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What happens when a defibrillator keeps going off?

Answer :If your defibrillator fires more than once in close succession, that's a problem and it merits urgent medical attention. One of two major possibilities could have occurred. One is that you had an arrhythmia that occurred, was broken by the device and then reoccurred.
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What can I expect after defibrillator surgery?

You may feel a hard ridge along the incision. This usually gets softer in the months after surgery. You probably will be able to see and feel the outline of the ICD under your skin. You will probably be able to go back to work or your usual routine 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
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Can a defibrillator help congestive heart failure?

An ICD may lower the risk of sudden death in some people who have heart failure. An ICD can fix a heart rate that is too fast or too slow without using a shock.
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Should you go to the hospital if your defibrillator goes off?

If it's the first time it's ever gone off, then it might make sense to call anytime day or night. But certainly if there's been multiple shocks, two shocks in a row, that's considered really an emergency and should prompt you to get urgent medical attention.
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How much does it cost to have a defibrillator put in?

Who Needs an ICD? Every month, about 10,000 Americans have an ICD implanted, according to the American Heart Association. The cost for an ICD implant alone is estimated at $30,000 to $50,000.
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Does a defibrillator stop AFIB?

In simpler configurations, standard single or dual chamber ventricular defibrillators have been used for atrial defibrillation purposes. In such systems, the shock vector configuration between the ventricle and the pectoral ICD usually includes the atria and therefore, successfully terminates atrial fibrillation.
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What happens when your defibrillator shocks you?

Nothing will happen to them. A shock from an ICD is less powerful than a shock given externally such as shocks given by paramedics or emergency room workers who use "paddles" on the chest, called defibrillation.
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Can you wear an Apple watch if you have a pacemaker?

Apple has listed products it says should be kept a "safe distance" away from medical devices like pacemakers and implanted defibrillators. The list includes iPhone 12 models, Apple Watch and MacBook Pro.
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Can you drink alcohol if you have a pacemaker?

Alcohol interferes with this pacemaker, causing the heart to beat too quickly or irregularly. This is called an arrhythmia. It can cause blood clots, dizziness, unconsciousness, heart attack, or even sudden death.
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Can you go in a hot tub if you have a defibrillator?

While a hot tub will not harm your implanted device, your medical condition may not permit this activity.
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Can you exercise if you have a defibrillator?

Your ICD won't limit you from exercising and playing most sports. However, contact sports could affect your device and damage the wires, so rough sports like football should be avoided. As you ease back into exercise after your ICD, start with short and simple walks, and gradually increase length and intensity.
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Can you use an electric blanket if you have a defibrillator?

If you have a defibrillator (ICD) fitted, you might be wondering how your electric blanket will affect it. As above, the answer is not at all! Many ICDs also act as pacemakers these days, but even if you have a standalone defibrillator fitted, there's no risk to using an electric blanket.
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