Does anyone know anything about implanted heart defibrillators?

Question

Dr's implanted one in my uncle because they said he's heart only works 32% and that he was at high risk for a heart attack, but after they implanted the defibrillator he's been having very frequent heart attacks in the last 2 months he's had about 30 or more heart attacks when before the defibrillator he had never had one.

But the Dr's say it's not the defibrillator they say it's just what would have happen anyways if he did not have it but that this defibrillator is saving his life. I don't understand he's in an out of the hospital and I think it's because of this thing

anyone know anything????????????

Answer 1

Personally the defibrillator implanted in my chest seems to help my heart more than cause harm. I think the doctor is probably right, it probably isnt the device that is causing him problems, sometimes heart problems cant be prevented. I've had heart attacks also with the defibrillator but on the positive side my heart has stopped less. I guess it probably just depends on the person and the doctor who implanted it. Best bet is for him to go to another doctor and get a second opinion.

Answer 2

There is a slight increase of strain on the heart due to having the wires running through the heart. People who have a defibrillator are more likely to have a heart problem that is oddly treatable by a defibrillator.

But the increased strain shouldn't cause the degree of problems that you fear or are describing. Although it can be a minor contributing condition to problems. Your uncle would be experiencing these problems not too far in the future anyway if the defibrillator leads in the heart is actually the cause of the problems.

I could conceivably see problems due to the surgery rather than the defibrillator causing this. Those problems do happen, but are rare. In which case the defibrillator is needed even more badly. The defibrillator and its leads are highly unlikely to be a sole cause of such problems.

The doctor is on the correct path more than likely.

Answer 3

The doctors are correct...A defibrillator is only going to stop a leathal arrythmia which the heart produces. It really has nothing to do with the continuous heart problems your uncle has been having...32% ejection fracture isn't that good, normal is about 55-60%. (Hence the term heart failure), His multiple heart attacks, maybe caused by the athrosclerosis build up in the heart which produce v-tachicardia, v-fibrillation.