Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) - Trends, Misreportings And Case Studies
Krishangi Arora, Dr S. K. Bhatia
Farmington High School, Farmington, CT, United States
Publication date: November 20, 2025
Farmington High School, Farmington, CT, United States
Publication date: November 20, 2025
DOI: http://doi.org/10.34614/JIYRC2025II10
ABSTRACT
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) are small battery-powered devices placed in the chest to detect and stop arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). An ICD continuously checks the patient’s heartbeat and delivers electric shocks when necessary to restore a regular heart rhythm. ICD is the main treatment for cardiac arrest survivors, and for people at high risk of cardiac arrest. Possible risks of ICD implantation include injury, ICD malfunction, and infection at the implant site. Our research investigates 166,547 adverse events related to ICDs over the past decade, obtained from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. We found that reported incidents of ICD related injuries, malfunctions and infections consistently increased in the last decade; however, the number of reported incidents of ICD related deaths decreased, signaling possible inconsistencies. We also identified and examined extreme cases of ICD related deaths that were misreported as injury or malfunction.
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) are small battery-powered devices placed in the chest to detect and stop arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). An ICD continuously checks the patient’s heartbeat and delivers electric shocks when necessary to restore a regular heart rhythm. ICD is the main treatment for cardiac arrest survivors, and for people at high risk of cardiac arrest. Possible risks of ICD implantation include injury, ICD malfunction, and infection at the implant site. Our research investigates 166,547 adverse events related to ICDs over the past decade, obtained from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. We found that reported incidents of ICD related injuries, malfunctions and infections consistently increased in the last decade; however, the number of reported incidents of ICD related deaths decreased, signaling possible inconsistencies. We also identified and examined extreme cases of ICD related deaths that were misreported as injury or malfunction.
