The decision to implant a cardiac device such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is one that involves a thorough assessment of the patients overall health and his risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). ICDs help patients at risk of recurrent and sustained ventricular tachycardia (a rapid heartbeat) or fibrillation (rapid, but irregular heartbeat), by sending electrical signals to the heart to help restore it to a normal rhythm. SCAs claim more lives in the U.S. than any other medical condition, including breast cancer, lung cancer and AIDS.
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