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Science 29% more heart-failure patients live with CRT-D device
Science 29% more heart-failure patients live with CRT-D device | 29% more heart-failure patients live with CRT-D device |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Thursday, 25 June 2009 | |
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Science DiscussionsThe condition, in which the heart beats out of sync (and, thus, needs to be resynchronized) and pumps blood inefficiently (and, thus, needs to be defibrillated), is common after heart attacks and various types of infections. The implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator device (or CRT-D device), manufactured by Boston Scientific Corporation (Natick, Massachusetts), has been approved for implantation in people with severe heart disease. Heart failure happens when the heart muscles weaken and the heart's ventricles do not coordinate properly; that is, they do not synchronize. This failure reduces the ability of the heart to transport blood throughout the body. In mild heart failure cases, patients generally have minor symptoms, or no symptoms at all, but are still at great risk for irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrillation) or death. In severe heart failure cases, patients become so weakened by their medical condition they are unable to have a normal lifestyle, and usually are bedridden. They have major symptoms such as difficulties breathing, buildup of fluids in the lungs and other organs, mental confusion, and general fatigue. A Boston Scientific study, called MADIT-CRT trial, was performed, with over 1,800 patients, to see if the device could help people with mild heart failure. Page two continues. |
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