Influence of radiotherapy on the latest generation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Purpose: Radiotherapy can influence the functioning of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). ICDs offer the same functionality as pacemakers, but are also able to deliver a high-voltage shock to the heart if needed. Guidelines for radiotherapy treatment of patients with an implanted rhythm device have been published in 1994 by The American Association of Physicists in Medicine, and are based only on experience with pacemakers.

Influence of radiotherapy on the latest generation of pacemakers.

The influence of radiotherapy on 19 new, modern pacemakers has been determined. Seven pacemakers lost output at 120 Gy. Eight pacemakers showed inhibitions during irradiation in the direct beam.