Implantable heart defibrillator to treat ventricular arrhythmias
Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, or S-ICDs, deliver small electrical shocks to your heart to restore proper rhythm. S-ICDs often are used for patients with ventricular tachycardia, a disorder in which the heart beats fast but with a regular rhythm, or ventricular fibrillation, in which the heart beats fast but with an irregular rhythm.
The doctors in our Electrophysiology Program perform over 5,000 electrophysiology procedures each year. With multiple outpatient clinic locations throughout the region, you can receive high-quality care close to home.
What to expect when getting your S-ICD
You may be asked not to eat or drink before the procedure. Talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking. An IV will be inserted to provide medication, fluids, and sedation to relax you during the procedure.
You will be given a local anaesthetic at the incision site on the side of your chest, close to your armpit. Your surgeon will make the incision and guide an electrode along your ribcage and anchor it in place near your heart. A pulse generator that contains the battery is placed under the skin near your armpit and tested. The incision is then closed and covered with a bandage.
You will be monitored in the recovery area for several hours after the procedure. You will be able to return home the day of the procedure but will need someone to drive you. Before you leave the hospital, we’ll give you a medical ID card with information about your device that you will need to carry with you.
Tests
Angiogram (Angiography)
An angiogram is a special X-ray taken as a special dye is injected through a thin, flexible tube called a catheter to detect blockages or aneurysms in blood vessels.
Chest X-ray
Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and chest wall.
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.
Event Monitors
An event monitor is a small device that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s similar to an electrocardiogram, but whereas an electrocardiogram takes place over a few minutes, an event monitor measures heart rhythms over a much longer time.
Holter Monitors
A Holter monitor is a small device that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s similar to an electrocardiogram, but whereas an electrocardiogram records over a few minutes, a Holter monitor records over the course of a day or two.
Stress Tests
Stress tests are used to assess how your heart works during physical activity. There are several types of stress tests, including treadmill or bike stress tests, nuclear stress tests, stress echocardiograms, and chemically induced stress tests.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Walter Lawrence Atiga, MD
Electrophysiology
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Sarfraz A. Durrani, MD
Electrophysiology
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Zayd Eldadah, MD
Electrophysiology
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Michael S Goldstein, MD
Electrophysiology
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Cyrus Hadadi, MD
Electrophysiology
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Jay Aaron Mazel, MD
Electrophysiology
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Glenn Robert Meininger, MD
Electrophysiology
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Wale John Ojeyinka, AGACNP-BC
Electrophysiology
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Edward V. Platia, MD
Electrophysiology
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David Julian Schamp, MD
Electrophysiology
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Sunjeet Singh Sidhu, MD
Internal Medicine & Electrophysiology
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David A. Strouse, MD
Electrophysiology
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Sarah Abigail Stull, PA-C
Electrophysiology
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Athanasios Thomaides, MD
Cardiology & Electrophysiology
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Apostolos Tsimploulis, MD
Electrophysiology
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Mohit Rastogi, MD
Electrophysiology
Show All
Our locations
Distance from Change locationEnter your location
MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
5601 Loch Raven Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21239
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving St. NW Washington, DC 20010
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Rd. NW Washington, DC, 20007
MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center
7503 Surratts Rd. Clinton, MD 20735
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
201 E. University Pkwy. Baltimore, MD 21218
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
9000 Franklin Square Dr. Baltimore, MD 21237
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
18101 Prince Philip Dr. Olney, MD 20832
Additional information
Electrophysiology Program
We are leaders in developing and using the latest procedures and technologies to treat heart rhythm disorders, and our cardiac electrophysiology laboratory is one of the most sophisticated in North America.
Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.