VT defibrillator Implantation and future removal

[Konoike]

Hello, I hve been diagnosed with sustained ventricular tach for the last 10 years. Healthy male  35 years and really athletic. VT episodes occur after either football or jogging. Following first VT attack in 2003, was hospitalized and all tests fine. vT was sustained and converted to Normal sinus after cardio version in UK.  Went for catherter ablation but doctor in uk failed to induce arrythmia so no ablation could be done. Was put on atenolol for a while but kept getting PVCs over and again. 4 other sustained VT attacks followed in the next 5 years. All the time it would convert back to sinus normal after heart beating for over an hour at 240bpm. Got another attack after jogging 6 months ago. It was sustained and was controlled with amiodarone IV after 2 hours. Was put on amiodarone and Nebivolol after discharge from hospital. Last week went to Germany for catheter ablation. Unfortunately the arrythmia was not induced. Doctor then recommended that I get an implantable defibrillator coz my VT could lead to sudden death. I accepted to have the ICD installed and this was done 10 days ago. I am now getting used to life with and ICD. I still have questions as follows:
1. I am still keen to hve catheter ablation carried out in next 24 months when i am off medications.Is this advisable?
2. If Catheterablation is successful, I would want the ICD removed as its very restrictive to my normal activities? Can the ICD be safely removed in Germany?

Thanks.

[Konoike]

Thanks. I think I have to get used to whole idea of having ICD. Am sure it is a great kind of insurance as my arrythmia have been so rampant.

[Aleksandra72]

I was also in CA but it didn't succeed. But I was told that even if they would succeed they couldn't take ICD off because they cannot be totally sure that all the arythmia "root causes" would be removed, so to say.

Why is the ICD preventing your to excercise? I haven't got that kind of problems with the ICD, I don't even notice it usually.

ICD is excellent life insurance in our kind of cases.

[Konoike]

Thanks for the guidance.

[itdood]

I can't really help with specifics to Germany but I can speak from experience.  From what I remember, removing the leads isn't recommended.  They will only remove the leads if there's some sort of risk to leaving them in, i.e. infection or so other circumstance.  Removing the generator (ICD / monitor) is less risky.  SO you might be able to remove the generator but they would probably leave the leads behind.