Implementation of Subcutanous Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator

Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillators are devices that can prevent the sudden death due to cardiac problems in patients, especially from ventricular arrhythmias. Prior to this point most of the ICD implantations had multiple problems, especially dealing with the transvenous leads which could provide inappropriate shock therapy and ultimately leads to the removal of the device. Thus to avoid these problems, the study introduces an entirely subcutaneous ICD sensor that eliminates the need for sensing and electrodes around the heart. The study primarily included 2 short period trials, followed by 2 trials of permanent subcutaneous ICD implantation. The study found that the patients with the subcutaneous cardioverter detected and treated conditions of ventricular tachycardia in most cases, and serves as a promising alternative to transvenous ICD.

I was particularly interested with this area of biomedical engineering and therefore I found this article very interesting. I have worked with a cardiologist in the past and this seems like a plausible alternative with tremendous upside. Also my grandfather had heart problems and in fact had a pacemaker. Such heart conditions are also likely in my family so such procedures could be really helpful in treating such conditions effectively in the future.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0909545#t=articleBackground