A subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) is much like a traditional defibrillator except that it is placed under the skin to the side of the chest and it is slightly bigger. The wires (leads) that run from the device to your heart are implanted under your skin instead of through your veins like a traditional ICD. This allows the leads to be more easily removed and replaced.
A subcutaneous ICD detects fast abnormal arrhythmias like a traditional ICD and is able to correct them by applying a series of electrical impulses to the heart or by delivering a shock.
