Aa
questions about defibulator
I HAVE A LOW EJECTION FACTOR a bit lower than 30% my heart rate is always around 100. My cardiologist recommends a Defibrillator . Im scared to have this done. Im afraid of the procedure, and after wars as well. Is it true they have to stop your heart to see if the device works. How dangerous is this to get done. Please help Im being scared to death
Best Answer
I assume you are talking about an ICD and there are various types. I believe there is now one device which doesn't even require wires. Depending on the type you have, they can act as a pacemaker, perform cardioversion which is a series of small shocks, or it can deliver a larger shock (defib). I have never heard of a heart being stopped to test these things on fitting? They are usually fitted under local anaesthetic and the risk of stopping your heart and expecting it to restart as a test doesn't sound correct to me? You are also sedated for the procedure because it can take hours to complete. I think you have to be careful of elecromagnetic sources but more than anything I would ensure you understand what to do should it shock you. Some people feel fine while some feel quite dizzy or nauseous for a while.
The procedure is NOT especially dangerous. The procedure circa 2014, has insignificant mortality. Modern defibrillators only sense when the heart enters into a condition known as ventricular fibrilation before activating. They are effective and life-saving. If your cardiologist recommends one, I would go along with the suggestion.
You are reading content posted in the Heart Disease Community
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.
You will be put into la-la land and won't remember a single thing about the procedure. It takes about one hour.
The one thing I hated about the procedure was sponge baths for about a week.
I'd say you are being offered a win-win procedure, and you should procede with great confidence. It is a walk in the park, you will wonder why you were so concerned. Keep us informed.