A lot of our patients come in and have the AICDs removed. They are unwilling to tolerate the "discomfort" involved in wearing them. Younger patients(the under 65 crowd) usually have EP(electrical/physilogical) studies performed. In this procedure the heart is shocked in an attempt to cause a lethal arrythmia. If the spot can be located it is zapped and the area usually causes no more trouble then a AICD is not needed. If this is not possible then the defib. is the best chance of correcting a problem that can cause sudden death. The whole idea is to shock the heart out of an arrythmia(Supra Ventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Tachycardia or Atrial Fibrillation)that kills you in minutes.

One of the big pushes is to have defibulators on all airplanes, in all big stores, everywhere there are large numbers of people. They are so simple they can be used by anyone even someone with no CPR training. Just follow the directions you don't even have to know how to read, the instructions are oral.

Sorry I didn't mean to write a book.

This research on biological pacemaker not a defibulator. This would correct a bradycardia (a very slow heart rate) not the v-tachs & v fibs. Correction in the first post Ventrical Fib. is the lethal arrythmia not atril fib. Have I told you how much I hate this damn split keyboard!

I think the current implantable defibrillators (like the one the VP got) are much improved over the early models. Most people report they are not aware of them firing.

I am commenting purely from personal experience as a CCRN with 11 years working in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at a VA Hospital affiliated with the University of Ar. for Medical Sciences. This is the state Medical School so we are also a teaching hospital. I know we work with an older, sicker population than the Vice President but we do use the same equipment. I am not sure the VP would admit to having his defibrilator removed.

Hello I was just implanted with a maximo vr defibulator and I am 42yrs old doc tells me i cannot drive a bus no more but I can drive a car I am greatful for the device but I am asking if any out there knows of a chat room for just defibulators out there I need support and more info. on life issues like A.D.A. laws and is it possible to drive a bus with one thank you for taking the time to read this Kevin

Kevin, log on to WebMD or do a google search for more information on defibulators. As to whether you can drive a bus with an implant I would think the laws might be different for each state.