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Bengaluru Patient's Life Saved by Innovative Heart Device
1 Oct
Summary
- A 26-year-old patient survived a cardiac arrest.
- A specialized subcutaneous defibrillator was implanted.
- The patient has a rare congenital heart condition.
A 26-year-old patient in Bengaluru experienced a sudden cardiac arrest while undergoing evaluation for an unrelated health issue. The patient, who has lived with a congenital heart condition causing single-ventricle physiology since childhood, was resuscitated by doctors. His condition involves a severely underdeveloped right ventricle, leaving the left ventricle as the sole pumping chamber.
Following the cardiac arrest, further assessments revealed severe dysfunction of his single functioning ventricle, with an ejection fraction of only 15%. Given the high risk of life-threatening arrhythmias, doctors decided on an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). However, the patient's complex cardiac anatomy necessitated a subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) to avoid the risks associated with lead placement inside the heart.
The S-ICD, implanted beneath the skin, monitors heart activity and delivers shocks if dangerous rhythms are detected, mitigating the risk of stroke. The patient was discharged in stable condition and is now being evaluated for a potential heart transplant. This case underscores the challenges in managing adults with complex congenital heart disease and the importance of tailored treatments.
