LOGROÑO, 23 ( EUROPA PRESS)

A total of 74 patients suffering from malignant arrhythmias are implanted defibrillators automatic, that they monitor the functioning of his heart and emit electric shocks in case of arrhythmia. Patients “make a normal life”, while the device prevents abundant “cases of sudden death” and a large number of income, said Director of health and social services, José Ignacio Nieto.

Advisor has taken these declarations accompanied by the Director Manager of the health area, Luz María of the martyrs. Grandson has explained that the implantation of implantable defibrillators (DAI) was initiated in late 2009 in La Rioja and the 74 had a cost of 1.5 million euros.

These devices “suppress, through pulses or electric shocks”, the fast (tachycardia) rhythms of potentially dangerous features. Thus, when the device detects a ventricular fibrillation (very serious cardiac arrhythmia, often fatal if it is not reversed in time) emits a download in the right ventricle, which usually returns to the heart to its normal rhythm.

Los DAI are implanted only to those patients with “a high risk of serious arrhythmias and sudden death”. Generally speaking, they are people who have already suffered “some serious ventricular arrhythmia episode;” a myocardial infarction; “or a dilated cardiomyopathy and severe ventricular dysfunction”.

Sending data

According to the statement of the Government of La Rioja, “the DAI monitors continuously the heart rate”. In addition, the device stores the information on the operation of each heart.

Subsequently, the DAI sends this data to other external device, using radio frequency and automatically. This second device, the patient “may be placed on your night table” for example, to send the data via the Internet to hospital. In this way, San Pedro cardiologists can evaluate the functioning of the heart, without the patient having to leave his house.

Implementation

the DAI is implanted under local anesthesia under the skin in the chest area. To do so, introduce one or several wires that connect to the heart through the subclavian vein. The introduction “does not require open heart surgery, and most patients can go home within 24 hours to gradually return to their daily activities”.

Advisor has also stressed that, until the end of 2009, around 12 La Rioja patients should shift every year to centres outside the region so it tends them this device.

It should be recalled that these devices were implanted to 11 patients 2009 in the San Pedro hospital; in 2010 and 36 defibrillators 27 in 2011.