Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: impact on the patient, family, and society.

By improving survival, the advent of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) creates a new patient population that is distinct from the general cardiac population. In these patients, focus is shifting from evaluating the physical response of the treatment to evaluating the emotional, spiritual, and psychological responses. Until now, the effect of this treatment on families and society at large has been underestimated. Cardiovascular nurses are continually being challenged in meeting the unique needs of ICD patients, assisting patients and their families to develop coping strategies, and empowering these people to live full and active lives in society.