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Living on the edge--patients with an automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator (AICD): implications for nursing
1Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of the West of England.
Insights
Automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) therapy offers a growing treatment for sudden, potentially fatal, cardiac events. Future research should explore the psychosocial impact of living with AICD devices on patients and their families.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Devices
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) therapy is increasingly used for patients at risk of sudden cardiac death.
- This therapy involves implanting a device to monitor and correct life-threatening heart rhythms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide background on AICD therapy.
- To discuss the nursing care required for patients with AICDs and their families.
- To recommend future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on AICD technology and patient care.
- Analysis of current nursing practices.
- Identification of research gaps.
Main Results:
- AICD therapy is an expanding treatment option.
- Comprehensive nursing care is essential for patients and families.
- There is a need for further investigation into the patient experience.
Conclusions:
- AICD therapy is a significant advancement in cardiac care.
- Nursing plays a crucial role in managing patients with AICDs.
- Further research is recommended to understand the long-term impact of AICDs on quality of life.
Abstract:
Automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) therapy is an expanding treatment option for patients experiencing sudden cardiac death events [Author: is this the correct term? It sounds as if they have in fact died. Could we say 'experiencing sudden, potentially fatal, cardiac events'?]. The paper outlines the background to the technique and the nursing care of such patients and their families. It recommends that future nursing research should focus on exploring the impact, on the patients and their families, of living with this device.