9 implantable cardioverter defibrillator and antitachycardia pacing

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), an electric device which includes a pacemaker, has undergone revolutionary changes. Although the device initially was developed only to defibrillate patients with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, who did not respond to antiarrhythmic drug therapy, all current models are able to provide defibrillation, low-energy cardioversion, antitachycardia pacing for ventricular tachycardia termination, and bradycardia pacing backup.