(September 3, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Implanting a device that can shock the heart back into action does not compromise quality of life while it prolongs the lives of those with a certain type of heart condition, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here is some information on implantable cardioverter-defibrillators:

•    An ICD keeps track of how the heart is beating, and if it beats irregularly, it provides a shock that returns the heart to its normal rhythm.

•    ICDs have revolutionized the treatment of heart conditions in which the lower chambers of the heart can sometimes beat irregularly.

•    While ICDs can save lives, the shocks they deliver are quite unpleasant, raising the concern that they may reduce quality of life.

Researchers from Duke University Medical Center assigned over 2,500 patients with heart failure and a malfunctioning left ventricle to treatment with an ICD or anti-arrhythmic medication and other medical therapy. They measured quality of life after 3, 12, and 30 months.

Those who received the ICD had better scores on measures of psychological well-being at 3 and 12 months. Measures of other aspects of quality of life were also superior in those who received ICD. By 30 months, quality of life appeared to be similar for both groups, although the shock from an ICD did reduce quality of life measures for a short time.

Today's research demonstrates how ICDs do not compromise quality of life while they can save the lives of those at risk for sudden cardiac death.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.