© 2018 by Cardiac Revival Machines
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart stops beating, abruptly and without warning. If this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. In addition, if the heartbeat is not restored with an electrical shock immediately, death follows within minutes. SCA accounts for more than 350,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. SCA accounts for more than 350,000 deaths in the U.S. each year and is one of the leading causes of death in the United States each year. In fact, SCA claims one life every 90 seconds, taking more lives each year than breast cancer, lung cancer or AIDS. Unfortunately, 95 percent of people who experience SCA die as a result, mainly because treatment within minutes is not accessible. What is the difference between an SCA and Heat Attack? Most people do not know the difference between SCA and a heart attack. Because time is crucial to saving someone who is having a sudden cardiac arrest, it is important to understand the difference. The heart’s electrical system is what is affected when SCA occurs. During SCA, the heart stops beating and no blood is pumped to the rest of the body. This could be compared to losing electricity in your house. The heart “electricity” must be turned back on, typically through electrical shock. A heart attack, typically known as a myocardial infarction (MI), affects the “plumbing” of the heart. A heart attack is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that interrupts the flow of blood causing an area of the heart muscle to die. This causes a “blood backup” in the heart, similar to a backup in a plumbing line in a house. The heart must be “unclogged,” with drug therapy or surgery, in order to continue the blood flow to the rest of the body. While both cause serious problems and possible death, SCA often occurs abruptly and without warning. In fact, two-thirds of SCA deaths occur without any prior indications of heart disease, while heart attacks often have previous signs and symptoms. What is an Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) Sudden cardiac death (SCD), defined as unexpected death from a cardiac cause occurring within a short time, generally within 1 hour of symptom onset, is a common cause of death throughout the world, with more than 3 million persons dying yearly from SCD. Usually SCD is what follows an episode of SCA. Ninty-five percent of those who experience SCA die because they do not receive life-saving defibrillation within four to six minutes before brain and permanent death begin to occur. SCD accounts for over 300,000 deaths annually in the United States. This means, approximately 1,000 persons experience SCD every day, with SCD occurring almost every 11⁄2 min. Sudden cardiac death in adults has a incidence peaking between 45 and 75 years of age (due to development of coronary artery disease [CAD]).Who is at risk of SCD
This is a very difficult question to answer. Clinicians have spent years and various methods to identify people at risk of SCD. Over the years, there have been many factors that have been identified as possible predictors of SCA which leads to an SCD. The most important factor that has been supported by various clinical studies is the function of the left ventricular of the heart(LV). If there is evidence that your heart’s LV has depressed ejection fraction (EV) which means that it does not push blood out as much as it should, then you are certainly at high risk of SCD. There are other markers that have been proposed by the physician community that could identify the degree of risk associated to a patient. These are more complicated and requires assessment by an expert. But what for sure puts you in the high risk category is if your left ventricular ejection fraction is below 35%. This is something that can be measured by your cardiologist or electrophysiologist. How do I protect myself against possible SCD? At the present time, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the most important marker for risk stratification. According to current medical guidelines, most patients with LVEF<35% could benefit from prophylactic ICD implantation. How do I find out if I am at risk of SCD? As SCD follows a suddent cardiac arrest, which represents when heart stops pumping due to electrical malfunction, you will need to be evaluated by a cardiologist who is specialized in electrical function of the heart. This group of cardiologists are called Cardiac Electrophysiologist (EP). EPs have many tools and techniques available to them, such as EP study, to figure out how much at risk you are. Although ICDs have been around for over 30 years, they have been applies to less than 5% of the population that needs them and could benefit from them. This is because most patients do not see an EP and do not benefit from their expertise. It is your responsibility to take charge of your own health and make sure to see an EP, if you believe you are at risk, or are concerned about your heart. What is an ICD An ICD is a battery-powered device placed under the skin that keeps track of your heart rate. Thin wires connect the ICD to your heart. If an abnormal heart rhythm is detected the device will deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat if your heart is beating chaotically and much too fast. An ICD is a more sophisticated version of the external defibrillator that they show in movies. It is implanted inside the people at risk, so that when the heart needs a defibrillation shock, it administers the shock immediately to prevent harm to body organs including the brain, and ultimately prevent death that could result form an untreated SCA. Unlike external defibrillators, an ICD does not require anyone to administer it, and will do its job even when the patient is alone and does not have anyone there to help. ICDs have been very useful in preventing sudden death in patients with known, sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Studies have shown that they may have a role in preventing cardiac arrest in high-risk patients who haven't had, but are at risk for, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. How is an ICD implanted? An ICD is usually implanted just under the collarbone, on either side, depending on what makes the patient more comfortable. ICD consists of two parts, a pulse generator, and wires which are called leads. A small incision is made at the site of the implant, and a small pocket is created under the skin for the placement of the pulse generator. The implantation of the pulse generator and the leads is done through the same incision. The actual process of implantation takes less than an hour and in most cases is done in an outpatient setting. So, the patient gets to go home after the surgery. How long does an ICD last? Since ICDs are battery powered, their life is limited to the life of the battery inside them. Current ICDs on the market have a predicted life of around 9-10 years. Recent studies done by physicians who have looked at a large number of patients who used ICD have shown that ICD have an average life of 5-7 years before they need to be replaced. Of course how long the device actually lasts depends on how much it is used. If you use it more, then it runs out of battery faster and has to be replaced faster. When an ICD is runs out of battery, it will have to be surgically replaced. The old pulse generator will have to be explaned and a new one placed in. With current devices on the market, patients should plan to have a replacement surgery every 5-7 years. What is the difference between current ICDs and CRM-1? The most important difference between CRM-1 and other products on the market is in how long the device lasts. Unlike all the other ICDs that last 5-7 years, CRM-1 is designed to last 25 years. This means that you will implant it in your body and leave it there for 25 years, verses needing to get 4 or 5 additional surgeries for replacement as you would need to do with the other products on the market. The other major difference is that unlike the current products on the market that are made to be one solution for everyone, CRM-1 is only a defibrillator, designed for people that only need a defibrillator. CRM-1 is a rechargeable ICD, and that is charged once a year. During your annual office visit, your physician charges the device to its full capacity which gives the device another full year of power. Patients do not need to do anything with the device, just like any other device on the market. Where can I get CRM-1? CRM-1 is not available for sale anywhere in the world. It is currently under development.
© Copyright 2018 by Cardiac Revival Machines
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is an Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart stops beating, abruptly and without warning. If this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. In addition, if the heartbeat is not restored with an electrical shock immediately, death follows within minutes. SCA accounts for more than 350,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. SCA accounts for more than 350,000 deaths in the U.S. each year and is one of the leading causes of death in the United States each year. In fact, SCA claims one life every 90 seconds, taking more lives each year than breast cancer, lung cancer or AIDS. Unfortunately, 95 percent of people who experience SCA die as a result, mainly because treatment within minutes is not accessible. What is the difference between an SCA and Heat Attack? Most people do not know the difference between SCA and a heart attack. Because time is crucial to saving someone who is having a sudden cardiac arrest, it is important to understand the difference. The heart’s electrical system is what is affected when SCA occurs. During SCA, the heart stops beating and no blood is pumped to the rest of the body. This could be compared to losing electricity in your house. The heart “electricity” must be turned back on, typically through electrical shock. A heart attack, typically known as a myocardial infarction (MI), affects the “plumbing” of the heart. A heart attack is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that interrupts the flow of blood causing an area of the heart muscle to die. This causes a “blood backup” in the heart, similar to a backup in a plumbing line in a house. The heart must be “unclogged,” with drug therapy or surgery, in order to continue the blood flow to the rest of the body. While both cause serious problems and possible death, SCA often occurs abruptly and without warning. In fact, two-thirds of SCA deaths occur without any prior indications of heart disease, while heart attacks often have previous signs and symptoms. What is an Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) Sudden cardiac death (SCD), defined as unexpected death from a cardiac cause occurring within a short time, generally within 1 hour of symptom onset, is a common cause of death throughout the world, with more than 3 million persons dying yearly from SCD. Usually SCD is what follows an episode of SCA. Ninty-five percent of those who experience SCA die because they do not receive life-saving defibrillation within four to six minutes before brain and permanent death begin to occur. SCD accounts for over 300,000 deaths annually in the United States. This means, approximately 1,000 persons experience SCD every day, with SCD occurring almost every 11⁄2 min. Sudden cardiac death in adults has a incidence peaking between 45 and 75 years of age (due to development of coronary artery disease [CAD]).Who is at risk of SCD
This is a very difficult question to answer. Clinicians have spent years and various methods to identify people at risk of SCD. Over the years, there have been many factors that have been identified as possible predictors of SCA which leads to an SCD. The most important factor that has been supported by various clinical studies is the function of the left ventricular of the heart(LV). If there is evidence that your heart’s LV has depressed ejection fraction (EV) which means that it does not push blood out as much as it should, then you are certainly at high risk of SCD. There are other markers that have been proposed by the physician community that could identify the degree of risk associated to a patient. These are more complicated and requires assessment by an expert. But what for sure puts you in the high risk category is if your left ventricular ejection fraction is below 35%. This is something that can be measured by your cardiologist or electrophysiologist. How do I protect myself against possible SCD? At the present time, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the most important marker for risk stratification. According to current medical guidelines, most patients with LVEF<35% could benefit from prophylactic ICD implantation. How do I find out if I am at risk of SCD? As SCD follows a suddent cardiac arrest, which represents when heart stops pumping due to electrical malfunction, you will need to be evaluated by a cardiologist who is specialized in electrical function of the heart. This group of cardiologists are called Cardiac Electrophysiologist (EP). EPs have many tools and techniques available to them, such as EP study, to figure out how much at risk you are. Although ICDs have been around for over 30 years, they have been applies to less than 5% of the population that needs them and could benefit from them. This is because most patients do not see an EP and do not benefit from their expertise. It is your responsibility to take charge of your own health and make sure to see an EP, if you believe you are at risk, or are concerned about your heart. What is an ICD An ICD is a battery-powered device placed under the skin that keeps track of your heart rate. Thin wires connect the ICD to your heart. If an abnormal heart rhythm is detected the device will deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat if your heart is beating chaotically and much too fast. An ICD is a more sophisticated version of the external defibrillator that they show in movies. It is implanted inside the people at risk, so that when the heart needs a defibrillation shock, it administers the shock immediately to prevent harm to body organs including the brain, and ultimately prevent death that could result form an untreated SCA. Unlike external defibrillators, an ICD does not require anyone to administer it, and will do its job even when the patient is alone and does not have anyone there to help. ICDs have been very useful in preventing sudden death in patients with known, sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Studies have shown that they may have a role in preventing cardiac arrest in high-risk patients who haven't had, but are at risk for, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. How is an ICD implanted? An ICD is usually implanted just under the collarbone, on either side, depending on what makes the patient more comfortable. ICD consists of two parts, a pulse generator, and wires which are called leads. A small incision is made at the site of the implant, and a small pocket is created under the skin for the placement of the pulse generator. The implantation of the pulse generator and the leads is done through the same incision. The actual process of implantation takes less than an hour and in most cases is done in an outpatient setting. So, the patient gets to go home after the surgery. How long does an ICD last? Since ICDs are battery powered, their life is limited to the life of the battery inside them. Current ICDs on the market have a predicted life of around 9-10 years. Recent studies done by physicians who have looked at a large number of patients who used ICD have shown that ICD have an average life of 5-7 years before they need to be replaced. Of course how long the device actually lasts depends on how much it is used. If you use it more, then it runs out of battery faster and has to be replaced faster. When an ICD is runs out of battery, it will have to be surgically replaced. The old pulse generator will have to be explaned and a new one placed in. With current devices on the market, patients should plan to have a replacement surgery every 5-7 years. What is the difference between current ICDs and CRM-1? The most important difference between CRM-1 and other products on the market is in how long the device lasts. Unlike all the other ICDs that last 5-7 years, CRM-1 is designed to last 25 years. This means that you will implant it in your body and leave it there for 25 years, verses needing to get 4 or 5 additional surgeries for replacement as you would need to do with the other products on the market. The other major difference is that unlike the current products on the market that are made to be one solution for everyone, CRM-1 is only a defibrillator, designed for people that only need a defibrillator. CRM-1 is a rechargeable ICD, and that is charged once a year. During your annual office visit, your physician charges the device to its full capacity which gives the device another full year of power. Patients do not need to do anything with the device, just like any other device on the market. Where can I get CRM-1? CRM-1 is not available for sale anywhere in the world. It is currently under development.
