Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator’s (ICD’s) have inbuilt alarm systems to notify patients of the need to seek assistance. Alarms may sound for a variety of reasons which can only be identified by interrogation of the ICD.
- 4 hourly alarm activations are specific to lead problems in some devices and may indicate an impending lead fracture.
- Other devices may indicate a lead problem by alarming once daily or by vibrating at regular intervals.
To prevent the possibility of the development of inappropriate shocks which may occur if the ICD lead is fractured please observe the following guidelines:
- Patients who present during office hours who have heard ICD alarms are to be referred to Cardiology Department for ICD interrogation
Patients who present out of hours:
- Admit to hospital
- Magnet to be secured over the ICD to suspend all tachyarrhythmia therapies and therefore prevent development of inappropriate shocks
- Patients are to be placed on telemetry
- Ward staff to be informed that ICD therapies are inactive
- Request ICD interrogation as soon as service is available
- If the pacemaker function of the ICD is on, normal pacemaker function will be maintained during magnet application.