ICD INSERTION

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a small battery-powered device placed in the chest to detect and stop irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). An ICD continuously monitors the heartbeat and delivers electric shocks, when needed, to restore a regular heart rhythm.

You might need an ICD if you have a dangerously fast heartbeat that keeps your heart from supplying enough blood to the rest of your body (such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) or if you are at high risk of such a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), usually because of a weak heart muscle.

PLURAL TAPPING

Thoracentesis (pleural tap) is a procedure to remove excess fluid from the space between the lungs and the chest wall. This space is called the pleural space. The procedure is done with a needle or a plastic catheter that is inserted through the chest wall. Thoracentesis may be done for diagnostic and/or therapeutic reasons.

Normally there is a small amount of fluid in the pleural space, but a buildup of excess fluid, known as pleural effusion, may occur due to infection, inflammation, heart failure, or cancer. A large amount of fluid in the pleural space can also make it difficult to breathe and cause pain.

PLEURODESIS

Pleurodesis is used as a possible treatment for complications from lung cancer, but it may also be recommended for other health conditions that cause difficulty breathing due to accumulation of fluid and/or collapse of lung. It’s a medical procedure designed to stop fluid or air from collecting in the pleural space—the space between the lung and chest wall. Your lung has visceral pleura (on the lung) and parietal pleura (on the chest wall).