In a study published in the January 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers scrutinized the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) in 111,000 recipients to analyze whether or not they met the appropriate criteria for placement of one of these devices. In this study, researchers found that an overwhelming 22.5% of all patients fitted with one of these devices does not meet the criteria for placement and could face serious complications as a result.
The ICD is a device that is implanted under the skin, into the chest and is responsible for detecting, and if necessary correcting faulty heart rhythms through electrical activity to pace the heart or shock a beat back into correct rhythm. In some patients, ICD’s are blamed for misfiring and causing death. In this study, the researchers found that there was dramatically higher rate of in-hospital death and complications in patients who did not meet requirements for the device, but were still fitted with one.
The rate of complications (including death) was drastically increased in patients who shouldn’t have received the devices in the first place. Also tack on a lengthier hospital stay (usually three times longer) and the risk for major complications and you have a recipe for disaster.
Source: Non–Evidence-Based ICD Implantations in the United States