A patient with a new automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) asks the nurse what happens if he goes into that deadly heart rhythm again. The nurse will base her response knowing that the AICD will
A) periodically fire just to test for lead placement and battery life.
B) respond to ventricular tachyarrhythmia by delivering a shock within 10 to 20 seconds of its onset.
C) use radiofrequency energy to deliver an electrical shock through the site where the lethal rhythm originates.
D) remove scar tissue and aneurysm during placement of electrodes and then will shock if paradoxical ventricular movement is located.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

AICD successfully treats individuals with life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias by use of intrathoracic electrical countershock. It senses and detects ventricular dysrhythmias. It responds by delivering an electrical shock between intrathoracic electrodes within 10 to 20 seconds of its onset. It does not periodically fire to test lead placement. It does not utilize radiofrequency energy (this is used in ablations). The procedure does not remove scar tissue or aneurysms. This is a ventriculotomy.

A Patient with a New Automatic Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (AICD) Asks