Originally broadcast from the new Electrophysiology Lab at St. Mary’s Hospital, The Dean & St. Mary’s Cardiac Center gives viewers the opportunity to watch an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator procedure, or ICD.  A team of cardiologists from Dean Health System guide you through the procedure.  Jeffrey A. Kushner, MD, performs the implant while John Phelan, MD, and Kartik Reddy, MD, narrate and answer questions during this one-hour program.

An ICD is an electronic device that provides constant monitoring of heart rhythm and rate. When a person has abnormal heart rhythm or rapid heartbeats (arrhythmias), the ICD will detect the problem and deliver a therapeutic dose of energy to the heart muscle. This causes a return to normal rhythm and significantly reduces the possibility of sudden cardiac arrest.

Often recommended for people who have a history of coronary artery disease, an ICD is a small, pager-sized device that is surgically placed under the skin below the collar bone. Typically, two wires are inserted through veins directly to the heart.  During this webcast, an additional Bi-V pacing lead is inserted. This third lead is used to deliver resynchronization therapy, allowing the right atrium, right ventricle and left ventricle to work in harmony to restore a more effective ejection of blood from the heart.