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Importance of Counselling ICD Patients: The Role of Cardiac Physiologists

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Psychological, Emotional, Social and Cognitive Aspects of Implantable Cardiac Devices

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Abstract

Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICDs) have proven mortality benefits in those at risk of cardiac arrest due to Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) or Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). ICDs present challenges not only in the technical management of the device but also on the psychosocial impact it has on a patient. ICD counselling prior to implantation and in some instances during follow up, can allow a patient to address the concerns they may have and attempt to minimise any possible negative psychosocial impact. ICD counselling should be provided by appropriately experienced healthcare professionals, in some UK centres this service is provided by cardiac physiologists and specialist arrhythmia nurses. The chapter specifically focuses on the role of a cardiac physiologist which is reflective of practise within our centre (St Georges’ Hospital, London, UK). ICD counselling prior to implantation is a way of protecting a patients’ autonomy and allows informed consent by empowering the patient with appropriate detail as well as giving them the opportunity to discuss the positive and negative aspects of the device. ICD counselling presents many different patient related challenges. This chapter aim is to explore these and offer advice on how to overcome them based on experiences within our centre.

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Acknowledgment

I would like to acknowledge Sue Jones, Pacing and ICD Manager at St Georges’ Hospital, London, UK whose experience and guidance I drew upon when writing this chapter. Sue Jones was responsible for setting up the ICD counselling pathway that is used within our hospital as well as the ICD support group for patients that is an integral support for ICD patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK

    Parisha Khan

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  1. Parisha Khan
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Correspondence to Parisha Khan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiac Center, Morriston Hospital, University of Swansea, Swansea, United Kingdom

    Riccardo Proietti

  2. eCampus University Faculty of Psychology, Novedrate (Como), Italy

    Gian Mauro Manzoni

  3. Department of Psychology, UniversitĂ  Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italy

    Giada Pietrabissa

  4. Department of Psychology, UniversitĂ  Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italy

    Gianluca Castelnuovo

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Khan, P. (2017). Importance of Counselling ICD Patients: The Role of Cardiac Physiologists. In: Proietti, R., Manzoni, G., Pietrabissa, G., Castelnuovo, G. (eds) Psychological, Emotional, Social and Cognitive Aspects of Implantable Cardiac Devices. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55721-2_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55721-2_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-55719-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55721-2

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