The challenges of improving ICD therapy

Dr Jay Wright, Consultant Cardiologist, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, spoke to Arrhythmia Watch on the psychological difficulties for implantable device (ICD) patients. He emphasises the need for counselling patients, and telling them the risks as well as benefits of ICDs. Dr Wright also stresses the importance of preventing the various causes of inappropriate shocks, for example noise interference, calling for evidence from large scale studies, such as ‘PainFREE’, to prove whether the Protector™ devices and therapy range improves things…