Subcutaneous ICD
A subcutaneous ICD is similar in function to a conventional ICD but is placed under the skin (subcutaneous) along the ribcage with no hardware in the actual heart. In the correct patient, this has many advantages including limiting the consequences of a possible device infection.
How The Subcutaneous ICD is placed
Once the patient has been properly prepped and draped, an incision is made to place the pulse generator at the mid-axillary line between the 5th and 6th intercostal spaces.
The electrode is positioned through two subcutaneous tunnels from the pocket to the xiphoid incision and from the xiphoid to the superior incision.
The pulse generator is then connected to the subcutaneous electrode and secured in the pocket.
