question about home defibrillators

[Guest guest]

The email from Tonya has added to my interest in this subject:

Is the KIND of heart attack caused by the complications of mito disorders,

likely to respond to the newly approved " home " defibrillators (aka AED or

Automatic External Defibrillator)? Some elderly people I know, and

institutions like my small church, as well as many rescue organizations, are

suddenly finding these now " affordable " devices attractive.

Supposedly these are for ventricular tachycardia or ventricular

fibrillation, based on info at

http://www.heartcenteronline.com/myheartdr/common/articles.cfm?ARTID=586

(you can read the whole article easily by clicking on " printer-friendly

version " ).

For instance I have right bundle branch block (RBBB) which shows up readily

on an EKG. By the way, if this is a chronic condition (as for me) it also

masks the usefulness of this indicator in an E-R situation, which I found

out a couple of weeks ago when I had chest pains. Good thing I knew that I

already had this RBBB. They really wanted to see an old EKG printout, but I

had left it at home (what a great PCP, that had let me copy this in the

first place). Another argument for PATIENTS carrying around their own

records.

So assuming we could afford these AEDs, or get our insurance to pay (anyone

have experience on this?), the question is, are they useful for our types of

problems? Prices look like $1000-$2000, not exactly cheap, but.......once

many people are getting them, the price will surely fall.

Steve D.

> Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 19:15:57 -0700 (PDT)

>

> Subject: Re: Heart Failure?

>

> Dear ,

> This is the same thing we are going through with Barry

> but are unable to gather information. He was

> hospitalized for a week because of it , and simply was

> given the diagnosis of conduction block.

> He however has a problem with any kind of excersion,

> walking a simple 4 steps will throw him into cardiac

> arrest. His BP drops to 60/40 and pulse is so weak

> you cant even detect it. I have had to perform CPR on

> him many many times. We also have an appointment with

> his nero to see if some light can be shed on this. If

> you happen to find anything out , please let me know

> as I would be very interested in whats going on.

>

> Love Tonya