How serious is wearing a LifeVest?

No matter where you are or the time of day, the LifeVest WCD can provide sudden cardiac death (SCD) protection when worn as directed. LifeVest can protect you even when you are alone. It is therefore critical that you wear the LifeVest WCD at all times—including while you sleep. “I don't have to worry with it on.

What happens when a LifeVest shocks you?

After the shock, if your heartbeat returns to normal, the alarms stop and the LifeVest returns to its normal monitoring mode. However, if your heartbeat doesn't return to normal and the arrhythmia continues, the treatment cycle repeats. You can get up to five treatment shocks.

How long do you wear a LifeVest?

If you feel lightheaded or dizzy, you can press a button on the vest's monitor, which will prompt the vest to shock – defibrillate – your heart into beating regularly again. Typically you'll wear a LifeVest^® for 90 days, then your doctor will do an ultrasound to see if you need a defibrillator.

Is it ever appropriate for patients to remove the LifeVest?

Q: Is it ever appropriate for patients to remove the LifeVest WCD? A: Patients should wear the LifeVest WCD at all times, including while sleeping. LifeVest should only be removed when a patient is showering or bathing.

Can you wear a LifeVest forever?

The LifeVest is intended to be worn while you are at high risk of sudden death. Most people will wear the LifeVest temporarily until their condition improves or until a permanent course of treatment is indicated.

ZOLL LifeVest First Responder Video

What is a dangerously low ejection fraction?

If you have an EF of less than 35%, you have a greater risk of life-threatening irregular heartbeats that can cause sudden cardiac arrest/death. If your EF is below 35%, your doctor may talk to you about treatment with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

How do you care for a patient with a LifeVest?

How much does a LifeVest cost?

Insurance covers most of the cost, but the LifeVest runs $3,370 a month to lease. The LifeVest continuously monitors the patient's heart, and if a life-threatening heart rhythm is detected, the device delivers a treatment shock to restore normal heart rhythm.

How much does a Zoll LifeVest cost?

Once home, and strapped into a powerful, roughly $3,000-a-month device they're told to remove only rarely, patients who want to know more about their LifeVest will be hard-pressed to find balanced information in news reports online, or from patient advocacy organizations.

Can you fly with a defibrillator vest?

Inform security staff of implanted defibrillators or pacemakers before going through screening and follow instructions of staff. Such devices are usually not affected by flying, but settings may need to be checked and reset after long-haul travel.

Why would someone need a LifeVest?

Why do I need the LifeVest WCD? Your doctor believes that your current condition puts you at risk for developing certain life-threatening rapid heart rhythms, which could cause you to become unconscious and unable to call for help. This could lead to sudden cardiac death.

At what point do you need a defibrillator?

You might need an ICD if you have a dangerously fast heartbeat that keeps your heart from supplying enough blood to the rest of your body (such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) or if you are at high risk of such a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), usually because of a weak heart muscle.

Why would you need a LifeVest?

Even strong swimmers have needed to be rescued or even drowned because they were overcome by the water. Wearing a life jacket can save your life! We recommend that everyone wear a life jacket at all times when near, on or in the water: when wading, swimming, fishing, boating or during any other water-related activity.

What ejection fraction requires a LifeVest?

The VEST Trial (Vest Prevention of Early Sudden Death Trial) is a multi-center, randomized controlled trial of LifeVest use in patients who have recently suffered a heart attack (medically known as “post-myocardial infarction” or “post-MI”) and have a reduced heart function (medically known as a low “ejection fraction” ...

Can ejection fraction be improved?

Luckily, lifestyle changes and heart failure medicines can help improve your ejection fraction and even reduce symptoms. Your ejection fraction is the percentage of blood that gets squeezed out of the ventricle with each beat. A healthy ejection fraction is around 50 to 70 percent.

Is a pacemaker the same as a defibrillator?

A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that helps the heart beat in a regular rhythm. An implantable cardiac defibrillator is a device that monitors your heart rate and delivers a strong electrical shock to restore the heartbeat to normal in the event of tachycardia.

How much does a Zoll Life Vest weigh?

Many AEDs are cleared for use on children, but the ZOLL LifeVest is the only one that doesn't require a second person to operate. It weighs less than two pounds (1 Kg) and includes a vest that can hide under clothing and a controller that snaps at the waist.

How long does it take to put a heart defibrillator in?

Inserting a pacemaker or defibrillator takes about 3 hours. After several years (usually 7 to 8 years), the battery in the device will begin to get low and the doctor will need to replace the device. Often the leads are still fine and can stay in place.

Who makes LifeVest?

Overview. The Cardiac Management Solutions division of ZOLL Medical Corporation develops products to protect and manage cardiac patients, including the LifeVest wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD), ZOLL Cardiac Monitor, and ZOLL Heart Failure Management System.

Can you wear a defibrillator?

You wear your defibrillator all day, but you must remove it—albeit briefly—to shower or bathe. Your doctor will custom fit the defibrillator vest to ensure its electrodes press against your chest firmly enough to detect heart rhythm changes, but not so tightly that they trigger false alarms.

How does a LifeVest defibrillator work?

LifeVest is a wearable defibrillator that, unlike an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), is worn outside the body rather than implanted in the chest. The device is designed to alert a patient prior to delivering a treatment shock, and thus allows a conscious patient to delay the treatment.

How does a wearable cardioverter defibrillator work?

The ASSURE Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator System continuously monitors and automatically detects abnormal heart rhythm caused by the heart's pumping chambers (ventricular arrythmia). If necessary, it may deliver an electric “shock" from the defibrillator to restore the heart's normal rhythm (defibrillation).

Can you ride a motorcycle with a defibrillator?

Those who received ICDs can drive an ordinary automobile weighing <5000 kg, but cannot drive motorcycles or passenger-carrying vehicles. There are no restrictions in the time spent behind the wheel or distance driven in a given time period.

How often do you change LifeVest battery?

Follow these steps to ensure you are taking good care of your LifeVest WCD on a daily basis: Change your battery – and charge the second battery – every day. Wash your LifeVest WCD garment every 1-2 days.

How do I uninstall LifeVest?

If external defibrillation is available, a decision can be made to remove the LifeVest wearable defibrillator and monitor/treat the patient with the external equipment. To remove the device, first pull out the battery, then remove the garment from the patient. “ Treatment has been given. Call your doctor.”