Also known as AICD is an electronic device placed in the body to help people who have life-threatening arrhythmias (heartbeat irregularities). The implantable defibrillator can:

• Keep track of heart rhythms;
• Send out electrical pulses and shocks when needed;
• Record heart rhythm; and
• Record the pulses and shocks the defibrillation device sends out.

An implantable defibrillator can do one or more of the following to help a person's heartbeat return to normal:

• Antitachycardia pacing;
• Cardioversion;
• Defibrillation; and
• Bradycardia pacing.

There are more than 3 million people worldwide who depend on pacemakers. It helps in correcting a slow, irregular, or otherwise abnormal heartbeat and helps patients in carrying out all the functions of normal daily life.

Usually patients with chronic conditions that cause persistent or intermittent slowing of the heart rate require pacemaker.

Pacemaker may be indicated in the following situations:

• People with temporary, intermittent, or persistent conditions that interfere with their heart's ability to initiate or properly distribute electrical signals;
• People with congenital, as well as acquired, heart problems that result in bradycardia (a slow heartbeat, fewer than 60 beats per minute) or an otherwise uneven heartbeat (tachyarrhythmia);
• People receiving drug therapy for other heart conditions, such as beta-blockers, to prevent related bradycardia; and
• People with recurrent syncope (fainting).