The implantable cardioverter defibrillator is designed to slow down a fast heart rate using electrical pulses or shocks to help control life-threatening arrhythmias (usually ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) that can cause sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
The device monitors the heart rhythm continually and if it detects an irregular rhythm, eg: the heartbeat is too fast, it will try to restore the heartbeat to normal by delivering low-energy electrical signals to the heart. If the low-energy pulses do not restore the normal heart rhythm, the ICD can send a shock to the heart muscle to defibrillate it or stop the cycle of rapid twitching. This interrupts the pattern of the rhythm disorder and allows the heart to resume its normal rhythm. An ICD also has backup pacemaker function.
An ICD is implanted in a similar way to pacemakers, it is a battery powered small device placed under the skin in the chest area and attached to one or two leads (thin, coated wires), which are placed in or on the heart muscle.
A newer generation of ICD is called the subcutaneous (S-ICD) which does not need to be implanted into the heart.
Implantable Devices
Implantable Devices
Implantable Devices
Dr Pipin Kojodjojo specializes in cardiac electrophysiology and management of heart rhythm disorders in both adolescents and adults.
Experienced in managing patients with atrial fibrillation and unexplained blackouts (syncope).
Dr Chuang Hsuan-Hung is a heart failure intensivist trained in advanced cardiovascular imaging. He specialises in heart failure and heart transplant intensive care.
Experienced in managing genetic heart disease, cardio-oncology and sports cardiology.
Dr Stanley Chia is an interventional cardiologist with a distinguished academic record.
He is skilled and experienced in managing complex cardiovascular disease and difficult coronary interventional procedures like stenting of the left main artery.
Dr Jeremy Chow is an electrophysiologist specialising in the implantation and management of electronic cardiac devices.
Experienced in arrhythmia management, stroke prevention and trained in procedures such as electrophysiology studies and ablations.
Dr Tan Chong Hiok is an interventional cardiolgist trained and specialises in stenting of the left main artery and chronic total occlusion.
He is experienced in managing complex cases in patients who have declined or are unsuitable for bypass surgery.
Dr Goh Ping Ping is an echocardiologist trained in imaging of the heart.
She is a strong advocate of preventive cardiology and awareness for women’s heart health. She manages a broad spectrum of cardiovascular disease including heart attack patients.
Dr Chan Wan Xian is a heart failure intensivist specialised in managing complex heart failure and patients with mechanical hearts.
Trained in cardiac imaging and she is experienced is treating women at risk of heart disease, especially during pregnancy.
Dr Edgar Tay is an interventional cardiologist specialised in structual heart disease, adult congenital and pulmonary hypertension.
Trained in procedures like TAVI, Mitralclip and pulmonary angioplasty for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
Dr Cliff Wong is an echocardiologist trained in imaging of the heart.
He specializes in cardiac imaging (echocardiography and cardiovascular computed tomography). Experienced in managing cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular heart diseases and cardio-oncology.
