Medtronic Lawsuit News

The Medtronic lawsuit on behalf of patients affected by the Medtronics lead recall continues as attorneys fight for individuals and families to receive compensation due to a lead fracture. Many patients have been left with unpaid medical bills, time lost from work, and the pain and suffering of undergoing another major surgery.

Getting an Implanted Defibrillator

You’ve just received the news: that breathlessness, fatigue and chest pain you’ve been experiencing? Your heart is not pumping blood to your body efficiently. The doctor says you need a defibrillator to regulate your heartbeat, which will create stronger pumping.

Understanding more about what a defibrillator is and how it is used may help ease worries and get you prepared for the procedure.

What is an Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)?

When the natural electrical impulses in the heart do not perform correctly, your heart can beat too quickly or irregularly, leading to serious medical problems. People with a history of heart disease may be at risk for tachycardia, in which the heart beats too quickly, or fibrillation, in which the heart beats both too quickly and erratically. Because of the rapidity of heartbeats, the heart cannot deliver blood throughout the body. In mild cases, it can lead to dizziness, faintness or chest pain. In extreme cases, it can result in cardiac arrest and sudden death.

An ICD is a very small computer that monitors the heart rate and delivers electrical shock to your heart in order to re-establish an appropriate rhythm and frequency. The Medtronic Sprint Fidelis leads were implanted in over 150,000 patients prior to the Medtronic lead recall in 2007.

Powered by a long lasting battery, a defibrillator is about the size of an iPod Nano, and is inserted in the chest near the collarbone. Wires or leads from the device are connected to the heart. During your doctor’s visits, the defibrillator can transmit information to your doctor’s computer so he or she can assess your heart’s function and program the ICD.

The Procedure

Your doctor will walk you through specific steps, however, you can expect an overnight stay in the hospital after the procedure is complete. You should bring all prescription and over the counter medicines as well as any vitamins or supplements to your doctor in case any of them affect the medicines you will be receiving during the procedure. You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area, and perhaps medication through an IV to help you relax. Doctors will monitor your heart using an electrocardiogram (EKG).

When it is time to implant the ICD, the doctor will make a small incision in the chest and will guide the leads to the heart via a vein. The leads will not be visible once the procedure is completed.

Once the leads are in place, they are connected to the ICD and tested. The doctor will then insert the device under the skin and close the incision.

You may feel soreness at the site, and your doctor may recommend you temporarily restrict movement in your shoulder area. Your doctor will advise you on when and how to resume your normal activities.

It will be extremely important to maintain follow up medical care. This will help your doctor gauge the effectiveness of the ICD and make any changes to its programming. Be sure to tell your doctor of any concerns or changes you experience with your ICD. Some ICDs have had trouble with their leads breaking, causing too few or too many electrical shocks, so be sure to let your doctor know if you are receiving shocks that seem unnecessary, or if you are feeling symptoms without receiving a resulting shock.

The defective Sprint Fidelis leads manufactured by Medtronic have been recalled, but people who may already have them implanted need to determine how to resolve this medical concern.

If you have a Sprint Fidelis lead, please contact us. We represent all Medtronics lead recall clients on a contingency basis, which means that there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. For a free no-obligation consultation please call toll free or fill out our short online contact form and a Medtronic lawsuit attorney will contact you to answer any of your questions regarding the ongoing litigation.