What is a Defibrillator?: A Cardiologist's Guide for Patients and Care Providers

A defibrillator implant is a small device surgically implanted in the chest to maintain the heart's electric rhythm. The surgery is very common: over 130,000 Americans receive a defibrillator implant every year. If you or a loved one requires a defibrillator implant, you'll undoubtedly have many questions-questions that can't always be adequately explained in a forty-five minute doctor's appointment. Clinical cardiac electrophysiology specialist Jeffrey L. Williams, MD, MS, FAC, FHRS, provides a complete, easy-to-understand guide to defibrillator implantation. The author of What Is a Pacemaker?, Dr. Williams begins with an explanation of how defibrillators work and the conditions they treat. Williams then discusses how doctors determine whether patients are good candidates for defibrillators and provides an overview of the implantation process. Potential complications both before and after defibrillator implantation are discussed, as is surgical recovery and follow-up treatment. For readers having difficulty with medical terminology, Dr. Williams offers a helpful glossary at the back of the book. Patients, caregivers, and family members alike will benefit from Dr. Williams's straightforward explanations. If you're a candidate for defibrillator implantation, this book can help you approach surgery with a full understanding of the procedure and what it means to your quality of life.…