Who qualifies for a LifeVest?

You may need a LifeVest if your ejection fraction (how well your left ventricle can pump) is less than or equal to 35%. A normal ejection fraction ranges from 55% to 70%.

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” ...

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.

Why would a patient wear a LifeVest?

A: LifeVest is designed to detect certain life-threatening rapid heart rhythms and automatically deliver a treatment shock to save your life. The device does not require the assistance of another person or emergency personnel for it to work.

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.

ZOLL LifeVest Wearable Defibrillator

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.

How long can you live with a LifeVest?

Patients in the study used the LifeVest for a median of 90 days and only 40 percent received an implantable defibrillator following LifeVest use, according to Zoll LifeVest President Jason T. Whiting. He also noted survival was high even approximately nine months after ending use of LifeVest.

Can you work while wearing a LifeVest?

The LifeVest was designed to allow patients to return to their normal activities. Patients return to work, hobbies, moderate excercise, and other activities of daily living with the LifeVest. You will have to remove the LifeVest when showering or bathing, but otherwise, you should wear it all the time.

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.

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.

Can you fly with a LifeVest defibrillator?

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.

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.

How much does a wearable cardioverter defibrillator cost?

The area in red represents combinations of these two estimates where the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) costs less than $100,000/QALY gained, the area in blue represents combinations where WCD costs more than $100,000/QALY gained as compared to standard of care.

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).

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.

What to avoid if you have a defibrillator?

Don't dangle headphones round your neck or within 3cm (1in) of your ICD. Don't put mobile or cordless phones, or MP3 players within 15cm (6in) of your ICD. Don't wear magnetic fasteners near your ICD. Don't use a TENS machine for pain relief, and keep electric-pulse body-toning tools below your stomach.

How long does it take to recover from defibrillator surgery?

Full recovery from the procedure normally takes about 4 to 6 weeks. Your doctor will provide you with a complete set of instructions to follow once your procedure is completed. Always consult your doctor for specific information or to ask any additional questions you might have.

Can you drive with a defibrillator pacemaker?

Conclusions. Patients who have received an ICD for primary prevention should be restricted from driving a private motor vehicle for 1 week to allow recovery from implantation of the device. Patients receiving ICDs for secondary prevention should be restricted from driving for 6 months.

Can you wear a shirt under LifeVest?

A: The LifeVest WCD is fit to a patient's body and is worn under regular clothes. Other than the monitor, which is worn in a holster around the waist or on a shoulder strap, there is no evidence that a person is wearing the device.

Can you do an EKG with a defibrillator?

Background. Preventable poor health outcomes associated with atrial fibrillation continue to make early detection a priority. A one-lead mobile electrocardiogram (mECG) device given to patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) allowed users to receive real-time ECG readings in 30 seconds.

How much does a LifeVest 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.

Can you still sink with a life jacket?

People die in water while wearing a life vest if they are knocked unconscious during the fall and cannot right themselves in the water and thus lose their airway and die. They also die if they are so intoxicated that they simply cannot think straight and end up over exerting themselves or panicking and drowning.

Will you always float with a life jacket?

Choose a life jacket that fits properly. Life jackets that are too big will cause the flotation device to push up around your face, which could be dangerous. Life jackets that are too small may not be able to keep your body afloat. Make sure the life jacket is properly zipped and/or buckled.

Can you survive in the ocean with a life jacket?

Assuming you're in warm waters and wearing a wetsuit and life vest, you could potentially survive for as many as three to five days, at which point you'll most likely succumb to dehydration. That is, unless a shark gets you first.