Sudden Cardiac Arrest Video Transcription

INTRODUCTION

Hi I'm Dr. Charles Machell, welcome to inside cardiac arrest.com

Here, you will find what you need to know about Sudden Cardiac Arrest, risk factors, treatments and therapies for Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and helpful information about your heart.

The American Heart Association reports that everyday in the United States; almost 900 people experience Sudden Cardiac Arrest - that's more than 325,000 people a year.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest, or SCA, occurs when the heart abruptly stops beating halting the circulation. Paradoxically, the rhythm of the heart is actually a rapid, irregular rhythm called ventricular fibrillation or VF. When the ventricles fibrillate, they do not contract normally, making it impossible to pump blood or oxygen to the body.

People who have survived a previous heart attack or who have been diagnosed with some forms of heart disease are at risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

RISK FACTORS

Cardiologist measure heart function by a number called ejection fraction. Ejection Fraction or EF is the percentage of blood that is pumped out of your heart during each beat. Medical research also shows that people with a low Ejection Fraction are at risk for developing abnormal heart rhythms and SCA. An echocardiogram is a commonly used test to determine EF.

SCA often occurs without any warning. However, symptoms include s udden collapse, loss of consciousness, abnormal breathing, an inability to find a pulse and loss of blood pressure.

Without immediate treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, there is little chance of survival.

TREATMENTS: CPR & ICD THERAPIES

Options for immediate treatment include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), to help keep the heart and blood pumping, or use of an automated external defibrillator to shock the heart and restore it to a normal rhythm. People who recover from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, or who have the potential for SCA, may receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, also called an ICD.

An ICD is a small, programmable internal defibrillator that can be implanted in patients that are at high risk for SCA. To know if, when, and what type of therapy might be needed, the ICD monitors or senses the heart 24 hours a day.

While pacemakers can speed up a slow heart rate, ICDs were designed to slow down a fast heart rate. In addition, many ICDs also contain a built-in full-featured pacemaker.

The device is implanted under the skin and attached to one or more leads, or pacing wires, which are placed in or on the heart muscle.

During the implant, a thin insulated wire called a lead is inserted through a vein in the body. The tip of the lead -- called an electrode - is then placed in one of the heart's chambers. The other end of the lead is attached to the ICD, which is usually placed just under the skin in the chest.

When an ICD detects an irregular heart rhythm, it is programmed to send treatment, an electrical shock to your heart. ICD's also constantly monitor your heart's rhythm.

A special tabletop computer, a programmer, enables a physician to talk to the ICDs, after it is implanted. The physician can evaluate the ICD's performance and change settings without further surgery. A telemetry wand is placed on your chest over the implanted device, enabling the ICD to communicate with the programmer and vice versa.

There are more than 35,000 ICD's are implanted every year and have proven to be more than 98% successful in restarting hearts that have gone into SCA.

RECOVERY

After the procedure you may feel drowsy and experience some tenderness and soreness at the implant site. By the next day, you will probably be able to perform most necessary daily activities; however, it is important to remember that everyone recovers at a different pace.

When you return home, you should relax and take it somewhat easy. It is common to tire easily after surgery. Also, avoid sudden, jerky movements with your arms, or stretching or reaching over your head. Physical activity may be resumed once the incision has healed. It may be beneficial for patients to begin taking short walks or to engage in another form of mild activity to get into shape. Physicians will tell you which activities can be resumed and when. It is important for you to follow your physician's instructions for returning to normal activities and for giving your heart time to heal. Generally, healing is completed in 12 weeks.

After an ICD implant, physical activity can probably be increased over time. It is important for you to build slowly to your normal routines. As you feel more comfortable and confident with your ICD, however, you may find that you are even more active after receiving the device than before. You should address specific questions regarding your progress with your physician. Thank you for watching.

This video was created by St. Jude Medical to provide information about Sudden Cardiac Arrest. This is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have questions about a heart condition, please talk to your physician.