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(Medical-NewsWire.com, August 25, 2013 ) Essex, UK -- According to the results of an observational study conducted by Andrew E. Epstein, MD at the University of Pennsylvania, patients who are at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest after an MI may benefit from the use of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator. Under current guidelines, patients must wait 3 months after an MI if they underwent revascularization and 40 days if they did not to receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Epstein and his colleagues investigated whether a wearable cardioverter defibrillator or LifeVest, from Zoll Medical, would benefit high-risk patients during this waiting period.
The researchers calculated patient use from data stored by the LifeVest monitor and clinical data supplied to Zoll Medical between Sept. 27, 2005, and July 13, 2011. During the study period, 133 patients received 309 shocks. This was 1.6% of the patients and 1.4% of them were successfully treated for sudden cardiac arrest. Ninety-one percent of the patients receiving shocks were resuscitated from ventricular arrhythmia. Thirty-eight percent of the patients did not undergo revascularization and 84% survived. Of the 62% of shocked patients who underwent revascularization, 95% survived. Seventy-five percent of the shocked patients received treatment within the first month and 96% received treatment within the first 3 months. From MI to shock the median time was 16 days.
Epstein and his colleagues wrote, “Although some may argue that prescription of a defibrillator, whether an ICD or [wearable cardioverter defibrillator], is not appropriate during the waiting period post-MI as LV function improves, our study suggests that a small but not necessarily unimportant group of patients may derive benefit from defibrillation early after MI.” The researchers wrote, “Having a wearable device that automatically provides monitoring and delivers electrical therapy without bystander intervention avoids some limitations of AED use and may be useful in that regard.”
About IntelligentCardio.co.uk
Intelligent Cardio (http://www.intelligentcardio.co.uk/) supplies easy-to-use defibrillator AED devices that provide life saving assistance to victims of cardiac arrest (SCA). Covered by most medical insurance policies.
Intelligent Cardio
Customer Service
0800 9989 801
enquiries@intelligentcardio.co.uk
Source: EmailWire.Com 
Source: EmailWire.com
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