New Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Offered at Baptist DeSoto

Baptist Memorial Hospital – DeSoto is proud to be one of the first hospitals in the country to offer the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) system. This heart device can be used with magnetic resonance imaging scans and has received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The ICD System has been approved for use with MRI scans on any part of the body. There are no positioning restrictions, so patients who need these life-saving devices are able to get MRI scans when they need them. This small, implantable heart device is placed under the skin below the collarbone on the left side of the chest. People who have a high risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia or a sudden heart attack that requires treatment within minutes can be prescribed the ICD system. It will monitor heart rate continuously and deliver an electrical signal to correct a life-threatening heart rate when detected.

Prior to this heart device, many patients relied on ICDs to detect irregular heartbeats and restore a normal heartbeat, but they were unable to receive MRI scans because of the potential interactions. Not being able to undergo these tests could result in an increased risk to patients. Even if a patient needed a simple procedure, if he had a risk of stroke, they may have been unable to obtain the necessary diagnostic tests.

Thanks to the new ICD system, patients don’t have to worry about losing access to MRI scans. Baptist doctors completed their first procedure on September 24, 2015. The patient, who was wearing a large, vest-like defibrillator with three shocking pads and four sensors, has received the new ICD and only has to carry an identification card with him to inform doctors that he has the device and can receive the appropriate testing.

Find out more about the services and technology Baptist Memorial Hospital – DeSoto offers to treat heart and vascular issues here.