ICD

Implantable cardiac defibrillator, a device that is put within the body and is designed to recognize certain types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and correct them. Defibrillators continuously monitor the heart rhythm in order to detect overly rapid arrhythmias such as Ventricular tachycardia (rapid regular beating of the ventricles, the bottom chambers of the heart); and Ventricular fibrillation (rapid irregular beating of the ventricles). These ventricular arrhythmias impair the pumping efficiency of the heart and greatly raise the risks of fainting (syncope) and sudden cardiac arrest. They tend to develop in people with coronary artery disease or heart muscle diseases (cardiomyopathies). They are life- threatening. A defibrillator can be implanted within the body by far less invasive techniques than in the past because the devices, aside from being more technologically advanced, are smaller. (An implantable defibrillator is about the size of a pager). The defibrillator corrects the heart rhythm by delivering precisely calibrated and timed electrical shocks, when needed, to restore a normal heartbeat.

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Abbreviation for International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization.

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I-cell disease; immune complex disease; impedance cardiogram; implantable cardioverter defibrillator; impulse-control disorder; induced circular dichroism; initial cardioverter-defibrillator; initial claudication distance; Institute for Crippled and Disabled; intercanthal distance; International Center for the Disabled; International Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death; International Common Denomination; International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health-related Problems; intracardiac defibrillator; intracervical device; intrauterine contraceptive device; ischemic coronary disease; isocitrate dehydrogenase; isolated conduction defect

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ICD abbr International Classification of Diseases usu. used with a number indicating the revision <ICD-9>

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see International Classification of Diseases. The latest version is ICD-10

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International Classification of Diseases (of the World Health Organization); intrauterine contraceptive device; implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.