The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is increasingly used to protect patients at high risk of fatal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The success of ICDs in terminating ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) has led to widespread acceptance and an increasing number of device implants.<sup>41 Mirowski M., Mower M.M. The automatic implantable defibrillator: Some historical notes Cardiac arrhythmias: Where do we go from here Mount Kisco, NY: Futura (1987).  655-662

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 61 Troup P.J. Lessons learned from the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator: Past, present and future J Am Coll Cardiol 1988 ;  11 : 1287

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> The emergency physician must be prepared to evaluate and treat patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with complaints related to the device. Patients with ICDs are at high risk of cardiac arrhythmias, and almost all of them have cardiac disease, thus complicating their ED evaluation.