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Defibrillators device support

Daily activities

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Getting back to daily life

Your TV-ICD or S-ICD system is designed to monitor and treat dangerously fast ventricular heart rhythms so you can lead a full and active life. You can find some general tips about resuming normal activities after your implant procedure below. But be sure to talk to your health care provider about what’s right for your specific situation.


Exercise and sports

Your health care provider may ask you to avoid strenuous activity, especially upper body activity, for a few months after the procedure to give you time to heal. After that, you will probably be able to do most of the things you did before your implant.

Your underlying heart condition and your TV-ICD or S-ICD device will factor into the type and amount of exercise you can do, so be sure to talk to your health care provider about what level of physical activity is best for you.

Your health care provider may recommend an exercise test to check the settings on your implanted device for the heart rate you achieve during activity. With the information from an exercise test, you and the people involved with exercise (coaches, gym instructors, etc.) can understand the physical activity and exercise targets you have.


Sexual activity

It’s common to be concerned about whether it’s safe to resume sexual intimacy after an ICD procedure. For most people with a TV-ICD or S-ICD, sexual activity is not a medical risk. This is because the natural heart rate increase that occurs during sex is the same as the heart rate increase when you exercise.

Testing at the hospital will help your health care provider program your device settings so you should not get a shock during sex. If you do receive a shock during sex, your partner may feel a tingling sensation. However, the shock will not harm your partner. Be sure to let your health care provider know if you receive a shock during sex so they can consider reprogramming your device.


Talk to your health care provider

Every patient’s situation is unique, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about ways to safely resume normal activities after your ICD procedure.


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Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators - Important Safety Information

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is designed to monitor and treat heart rhythm problems, greatly reducing the risks associated with them. These devices are sensitive to strong electromagnetic interference (EMI) and can be affected by certain sources of electric or magnetic fields. With all medical procedures there are risks associated. In regard to an implanted ICD, the risks include but are not limited to inappropriate shock, lead moves out of place, loss of stimulation capability, allergic reaction, fluid underneath the skin, and infection. In rare cases device failure or death can occur. Be sure to talk with your doctor so that you thoroughly understand all of the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of this system. To obtain a copy of the device Patient Handbook for more detailed device safety information, go to www.bostonscientific.com, or you can request a copy by calling 1-866-484-3268 or writing to Boston Scientific, 4100 Hamline Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55112.

S-ICD™ System - Important Safety Information

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is designed to monitor and treat heart rhythm problems, greatly reducing the risks associated with them. There are risks associated with this device including, but not limited to, allergic reactions, bleeding, death, fever, infection, kidney failure, need for surgical replacement, nerve damage, stroke and tissue damage. Electrical or magnetic fields can affect the device. In some cases, the device may not respond to irregular heartbeats or may deliver inappropriate shocks and in rare cases severe complications or device failures can occur. Your physician should discuss all potential benefits and risks with you and describe the appropriate medical care.

Refer to the product labeling for specific indications, contraindications, warnings/precautions and adverse events. Rx only.

Device Quality and Reliability

It is Boston Scientific’s intent to provide implantable devices of high quality and reliability. However, these devices may exhibit malfunctions that may result in lost or compromised ability to deliver therapy. Refer to Boston Scientific’s CRM product performance report on www.bostonscientific.com for more information about device performance, including the types and rates of malfunctions that these devices have experienced historically. While historical data may not be predictive of future device performance, such data can provide important context for understanding the overall reliability of these types of products. Also, it is important that you talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of a device.

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