why or why not get an implanted defibrillator?


Question:
I have a low ejection fraction (25%) and have had LAD artery opened and stinted after a clot formed around ruptured plaque in the artery last June. Physically, I'm feeling fine.

Answers:
"Automatic Implantable (or Internal) Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD). AICDs are used for treating irregular heartbeats, like atrial fibrillation (an abnormally fast and highly irregular heartbeat) and ventricular tachycardia (a fast heartbeat caused by abnormal electrical signals). The defibrillator is surgically placed inside the patient's chest where it monitors the heart's rhythm. When it identifies a serious arrhythmia it produces an electrical shock to disrupt the arrhythmia."

Sometimes a device can malfunction. A malfunction in any case is unlikely to endanger the lives of these people, and the devices may not need to be replaced until it's time to replace the batteries. "Even the most reliable, 'nondefective' devices that we would use to replace recalled models would themselves have some small possibility of failure. ICDs and pacemakers are highly sophisticated machines with numerous components, and every one of these components has some very, very small chance of failing over time."

Great site below with lots more information. Hope that helps!

Other Answers:
People with a low ejection fraction such as yours are at a much higher risk of a lethal arrhythmia such as ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation.

The "MADIT 2" study showed a 31% DECREASE in the risk of death in low EF patients (<30%) treated with a defibrillator plus medical therapy when compared with those who received medical therapy only.

Hoopefully, your device would never fire. However, it's better to wake up looking at the ceiling than to not wake up at all.
Source(s):
experience as cardiovascular PA
http://www.guidant.com/webapp/emarketing/compass/comp.jsp?lev1=madit_prof&lev2=criteria



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