Defibrillators ( AED's and ICD's)

Diseases & Conditions Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
1
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
 
"An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable automatic device used to restore normal heart rhythm to patients in cardiac arrest.

An AED is applied outside the body. It automatically analyzes the patient’s heart rhythm and advises the rescuer whether or not a shock is needed to restore a normal heart beat. If the patient’s heart resumes beating normally, the heart has been defibrillated."

 
http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/treatments/medicaldevices/aed.html
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=30

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
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Post Edited (Teri16) : 8/12/2005 8:10:27 PM (GMT-6)

2
There are also implantable cardiac defibrillators that can be used to help people when their natural pacemakers aren't working properly.  This is a surgical procedure.
 
http://familydoctor.org/270.xml

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
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3
Here is a great article on defibrillators!
 
"Broadening the therapeutic uses of ICD technology"
Source: Patient Care
By: Kathryn A. Glatter, MD
"The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) has become more widespread in recent years to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD), one of the leading causes of mortality in the United States and most other developed nations."
http://mediwire.healingwell.com/main/Default.aspx?P=Content&ArticleID=160893

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating:
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4
I've don't have any first hand knowledge of either of these devices, but perhaps others that have had personal experiences with these external devices, or have had an implantable cardiac defibrillator put in, could explain how it's helped them?
 
Don't be bashful - I'd love to hear how it's worked for you!
 
Hugs, Teri tongue

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
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5

Well, I'm still very new to the ICD world as I've had mine for just over 2 weeks. tongue

I can say that I don't seem to have as many PVC's as I was. Perhaps that's the pacing my ICD provides or maybe it's because I'm a bit less stressed knowing that I have the ICD there in me to protect me...my safety net.

My healing process from the surgery has been uneventful. It wasn't too painful. I used extra strength Tylenol for the pain but only for a day or two afterwards. :-)

I'm adjusting to (what I consider) the very noticeable bump under my skin where the ICD is. Of course, I'm probably more sensitive to that. Brent (my husband) said after the small scar heals you won't be able to tell that anything is there...AAAHHH he's such a sweetheart! yeah

Julia

MI - 6/02 - received 2 stents - RCA
OHS - 11/02 - single bypass & mitral valve repair
ICD placement - 7/05
 
Thank you God for another day of life. Help me to make the most of it and send me someone I can help today!
 
 

6

Teri

I am trained  by our Fire Rescue  dept and EOC to use  AED"s they are great to help someone  in SCA's the whole machine talks you through in a computer voice and it shows where to put on pads and tells yuo to stand back too and if you need a shock it gives a shock if you donot need a shock it will not shock yuo. IT was  good to learn and get certified in  and wiuth people with pacemakers and ICd's  we re told  whenever they have chest pain get to the ER ASAP and yes we can use a AED for those devices too but put the pads in a diferent place. I'll get uot notes on the AED's and add to this ok.

Heidi

Love starts with a SMILE
Grows with a KISS
And ends with a TEAR
 
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7
AED's
interpret heart rhythmand determine if a shock is required. the unit prompts the rescuer to deliver the shock if necessary. AN AED WILLNOT shock someone who doesnot need defibrallation.
 
 
The impact of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
 
 340,000 people die each year from SCA that is about 900 per day !
90% of SCA's occur outside a hospitila
 
If AED's were more readily available, approximately 50,000 lives could be saved each year.
 
a person haveing a SCA is clinical dead use of a AED to resuscitrate can do no additional harm and we are covered  here in FLA by the Good Samaritian law and Federal cardiac Arrest Survival Act (CASA)
 
 
YOu can contact your ECCO office or  Fire DEPT and ask how you can get AED's in work places, shopping malls, churches etc.. each state is different,
Now folks this is near and dear to my heart AED's adn  we got very intense training on using one so please go to he local Red Cross and sign up for a course on how to use one.
Heidi

Love starts with a SMILE
Grows with a KISS
And ends with a TEAR
 
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8
Hi Julia!
 
I'm sorry that you have had all these heart health issues happening since we last spoke - but it seems as if things are getting more under control now?!  What started happening that you noticed that led to you having the ICD implanted?
 
It sounds like all is going well so far - you'll have to let us know how this helps you!  Did you get a list of what to be careful around?
 
Please take good care of yourself!!  Hugs, Teri tongue xoxoxo

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating:

9
>>>Don't be bashful - I'd love to hear how it's worked for you!<<<
 
   I have experience with an AED as one was used on me...I suffered SCA and wouldn`t be here now if there wasn`t a AED handy..They first sliced my top all the way up the left sleeve and down the left side..They didn`t bother to take any time to try and undo buttons..(They gave the top back to me when I got out. I have it hanging in my closet as a reminder of how lucky I am to be here) They also shot me full of adrenaline thru the side of my neck or so I heard..I don`t recall any of that obviously
10
Sara, I think I'd keep that shirt as a reminder, too!  yeah   Wow, what an experience for you to have had that happen like that!!  I'm so glad that they were able to use it on you and that you are here to tell us about your experience today!
 
Hugs, Teri tongue

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating:

11

Yep Sara Teri is so right  yu are a survivor and I loved learning to use the AED's and so many places donot have them. Hey yuo would be a great advocate for them in your state since yuo had one used on yuo and  are alive to say it does work. Our Fire Chief here told us giove a woman her privacy when using it and if I hear of any man not respectiong a woman using an AED an automatic  wek suspension without pay. That is the way is should be.

Also folks it doesnot shock yuo unles you need it so donot be afraid to use one it does talk you through it step by step.

Again Thank you Sara fro shareing yuor story. I miss seeing you post.

Heidi

Love starts with a SMILE
Grows with a KISS
And ends with a TEAR
 
Please allow healingwell to continue to help others by donating
 

12
>>>Sara, I think I'd keep that shirt as a reminder, too!<<<
 
  Yes I have it up in the front so I can see it always..But I have refused to ever put it on again
 
>>>Again Thank you Sara fro shareing yuor story. I miss seeing you post.<<<
 
  There doesn`t seem to be as much for me to respond to on here..Lots of technical stuff and operations and things..I`m better at the feelings and emotions of the matter
13
Sara, you may always interject your thoughts anywhere you'd like here, or start a new thread (on topic) whenever you have a mind to!! That's what it's all about!

Hugs always, Teri :)

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating:

14

sara tell us more about your AED experience if yuo can remember anything did  it leave prints like the defiberaltors used in the hospital or not at all.

Etc let us know abuot it ok for some people are still very sketiple about it.

Heidi

Love starts with a SMILE
Grows with a KISS
And ends with a TEAR
 
Please allow healingwell to continue to help others by donating