Articles tagged ‘implantable cardioverter defibrillators’

The safety of security screening with hand-held metal detectors for people with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) has been supported by research published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine.¹

Over 30 years ago the first implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was deployed in man. Since, millions of devices have been implanted worldwide and “innumerable lives have been saved”.¹ There have been many challenges on the way and a number of significant limitations remain.

Dr Jay Wright, Consultant Cardiologist, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, spoke to Arrhythmia Watch on the psychological difficulties for implantable device (ICD) patients. He emphasises the need for counselling patients, and telling them the risks as well as benefits of ICDs. Dr Wright also stresses the importance of preventing the various causes of inappropriate shocks, for example noise interference, calling for evidence from large scale studies, such as ‘PainFREE’, to prove whether the Protector™ devices and therapy range improves things…

Dr Jay Wright, Consultant Cardiologist, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, spoke to Arrhythmia Watch on the benefits of cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) and remote monitoring technology. He assesses the benefits for patients’ quality of life and exercise capacity, as well as healthcare savings through reduced hospital admissions. Dr Wright also examines the CRT selection criteria of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), arguing that some patients with atrial fibrillation, judged ineligible, could benefit considerably.

Cardiac rhythm management expert Professor John Morgan, Consultant Cardiologist, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, spoke to Arrhythmia Watch on the benefits of remote monitoring technology in patients with pacemakers and ICDs. He assesses the monitoring system’s benefits for clinical efficiency and economy. The UK is in a leading position Europe-wide in remote monitoring technology use.

A recent study[1] by a Dutch research team from the Leiden University Medical Centre asserts that despite the benefits of therapy with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), inappropriate shocks from the devices are “common” and place patients at a greater risk of arrhythmia and associated mortality. The research examines the incidence, predictors, and patient outcomes of inappropriate ICD shocks in a large, real-world patient population.

A new study [1] suggests that, in a broad population undergoing implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation, that mortality is relatively high, at 16%, within one year after implantation.