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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Person Upon Turning Off The ICD?

My grandfather is in Hospice care and they turned off his ICD last night, because he d had well over 30 heart attacks/episodes yesterday. They told us it would completely stop working after 12 hours, and that he would probably pass away in his sleep last night. He is still alive, but we aren t sure what to expect now. What normally happens after the device is deactivated? Are we actually looking at days or weeks still, or were the doctors correct to say last night, and he is just holding on a little longer? We are trying to prepare ourselves and family, but are confused about what happens after a device is turned off like that.
posted on Sat, 18 Mar 2017
Twitter Wed, 31 Oct 2018 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 2 Nov 2018 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,

Most ICD's are now designed to function as pacemakers. If the shock function of the ICD is turned off, leaving the pacemaker part of the device working, the pacemaker will take care of the heart related symptoms near the end of life. But if the pacemaker device is turned off the patient will die soon.

The multiple shock that the patient may get near the end of life is managed with magnets.It depends on what device is turned off. You can consult the hospice doctors about it.Life expectancy of a patient in hospice is never long.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Nupur K,
General & Family Physician
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What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Person Upon Turning Off The ICD?

Hello, Most ICD s are now designed to function as pacemakers. If the shock function of the ICD is turned off, leaving the pacemaker part of the device working, the pacemaker will take care of the heart related symptoms near the end of life. But if the pacemaker device is turned off the patient will die soon. The multiple shock that the patient may get near the end of life is managed with magnets.It depends on what device is turned off. You can consult the hospice doctors about it.Life expectancy of a patient in hospice is never long. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Nupur K, General & Family Physician