Defib implant just saved my Dad's life

Spokes - 2009-04-14 9:25 AM

My dad, who is 75, was sleeping soundly when his pacer/defib implant went off at 5 am Easter morning. His heart apparently went into a racing mode, and the shocker went off, which knocked him awake (he says its like someone hitting you in the chest with a 2x4). He called his electrocardio nurse, and she told him (because of his age and 20% heart function + he's had two quad bypasses) to go the hospital to have the unit and himself checked out.

They kicked him out yesterday afternoon no worse for year, and the initial analysis of the test results shows no change in his heart function over the past several months, which is good. This is the first time his has ever gone off, and actually, the docs said usually, they don't even ask someone to come in if it goes off just once, but given his age and poor heart condition they wanted to be sure something else wasn't wrong.

He has been struggling to keep his potassium levels near normal and they're having him increase those dosages a lot, as low potassium levels can really mess up your heart.

Better living through technology... BTW, when I was home in March, he had one of his older implants (he's on #4) out to show me. Those things cost about 60 grand and easily fit in the palm of my hand... about what a nice new BMW runs.