If you have an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), you know that doctors believe it is one of the best ways to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. This small device, implanted in the chest, monitors the heartbeat and provides an electric shock if the heartbeat is too fast or irregular. For people with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, the ICD can provide treatment before you’re even aware of any physical symptoms. If you are a patient subject to the Sprint Fidelis recall of Medtronic heart leads you are left in a difficult position because of the complexity of undergoing an additional surgery to remove or replace the defective defibrillator lead. But although it is a life-saving device, patients may experience a range of emotions about living with a defibrillator. Relief. That’s what some patients say about having a defibrillator. They know that if their heart has an irregular beat, the defibrillator is there to address it. If the person wants to go camping, or on vacation or on a business trip—away from their medical facility, their heart is still being monitored and, if needed, treated. Frustration. Despite the ability of many patients to resume normal activities, there are inconveniences and restrictions. Patients may have driving restrictions, particularly if they have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia or if their defibrillator has had to deliver a shock to regulate the heartbeat. Having an ICD may affect job opportunities. For example, people with ICDs may not be ineligible for jobs requiring frequent driving. Because the ICD can mistakenly pickup energy from other sources, people with ICDs are cautioned not to use certain power tools such as chain saws or welding tools. They must also be careful not to be too close to power generators, and must exercise caution when going through security systems. Fear. The defibrillator delivers a shock whenever the heart is not beating effectively. While that is a good thing, the shock itself can be upsetting. First, is the awareness that your heart wasn’t working properly, and then there is the physical reaction to the shock. Conversely, patients also fear that the device isn’t working properly and that they may have an arrhythmia that the defibrillator doesn’t address. That fear isn’t made any easier when news comes out about problems with defibrillators or their parts. Patients with Medtronic defibrillators, for example, learned that the wires in some of their defibrillators could break or fracture, causing the defibrillator to fire unnecessarily or to fail to work when needed. These patients are faced with the difficult decision of whether to preventatively replace the leads in case they should break, or to monitor the situation and hope for the best. Patients and families affected by the Medtronic recall of heart leads are encouraged to explore their legal options. Many patients have suffered from a lead fracture which can lead to painful, unnecessary shocks. Some individuals have been left with unpaid medical bills and time lost from work and have looked at filing a Medtronic lawsuit to help compensate for these losses.
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If you have an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), you know that doctors believe it is one of the best ways to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. This small device, implanted in the chest, monitors the heartbeat and provides an electric shock if the heartbeat is too fast or irregular. For people with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, the ICD can provide treatment before you’re even aware of any physical symptoms.
Mark Johnson is author of this article on Medtronic lead recall. Find more information about Medtronic lawsuits here.
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