[What must intensive care physicians know about implantable cardioverter defibrillator?].

The first implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was implanted in the USA in 1980. After the publication of the landmark studies MADIT I and AVID (primary prevention in high risk patients and secondary prevention after sudden cardiac death) implantation rates dramatically increased worldwide. Due to the increasing number of implantations in elderly patients, intensive care units and emergency departments are confronted more often with patients with ICDs. Therefore, intensive care practitioners have to be familiar with these devices. This article summarizes the current literature and focuses on the management of emergencies and malfunction of ICDs.