Final answer:
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are indicated for HOCM patients at risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmias. They deliver electrical shocks to terminate life-threatening arrhythmias and allow the heart to resume normal function. Cardiologists assess the need for an ICD based on individual risk factors in HOCM patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
Indications for the use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM) include the management of life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation (VF) or sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), which can lead to sudden cardiac death. An ICD is a device that is capable of providing both defibrillation and pacing therapy. It delivers an electrical shock to the heart to terminate an arrhythmia and allows the body's natural pacemaker to resume normal sinus rhythm.
In HOCM patients, the risk of sudden cardiac death is increased due to the potential for VF or VT. Therefore, implantation of an ICD may be indicated for secondary prevention in patients who have survived a cardiac arrest or documented spontaneous sustained VT, or for primary prevention in patients with HOCM who are determined to be at high risk for sudden cardiac death based on their clinical profile and family history. The decision to implant an ICD should be made after a comprehensive risk assessment by a cardiologist.
It's essential to differentiate between pacemakers, which generally help to manage slower heart rhythms, and ICDs, which can act as pacemakers but are primarily used to prevent sudden death from fast, life-threatening arrhythmias. Both devices can be programmable and may deliver therapy on-demand or continuously depending on the patient's needs. Patients with severe symptoms of arrhythmia may also receive urgent treatment with a controlled electric shock via external defibrillators before the implantation of an ICD.