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Showing posts from February, 2015

AUTOMATIC IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATORS (AICD)

           Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (AICD)                                                              Why is the doctor performing this PROCEDURE? To monitor an abnormally beating heart, either one that beats too fast (Tachycardia), too slow (Brachycardia) or irregularly irregular (Atrial Fibrillation). These abnormal heart beats are referred to as arrhythmias.  What is an AICD? An AICD is a device that monitors a person's heart rate. They are generally implanted into heart failure patients. The device is programmed to perform the following tasks: speed up or slow down your heart, depending upon the heart rate. The AICD gives your heart a shock if you start having life threatening arrhythmias or an abnormally high heart rate. Arrhythmias occur when your heart does not beat normally. Some arrhythmias can cause the heart to completely stop beating. The shock given by the AICD can make the heart start beating normally again. An