What is CRT and what are the other Cardiac Devices?
CRT – It is also known as biventricular-pacemaker. Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy or CRT balances the beat timing of the righ anf left sided walls and the chambers of the heart. It synchronizes the beat of the whole heart after the patient has suffered from a heart attack or failure. When the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, then the fluid builds up in the legs and lungs. The inability of the lower chambers of heart (ventricles) to beat at the same time creates this issue. That’s why a pacemaker with 3 leads is implanted that is attached to both the ventricles and to the right atrium, it makes them contract at the same time.
ICD – ICD is the Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. It constantly monitors the heart beat and delivers a shock if the heart beat becomes dangerously abnormal. This is a condition called Ventricular tachycardia or Ventricular Fibrillation and it can be fatal within seconds. Hence ICD acts like the patient’s own mobile ICU and can be life-saving. It can be fixed along with CRT if required for patients with a weak heart and broad complexes (or left bundle branch block) on the ECG. With the defibrillator installed, CRT is known as CRT-D or Combo device.
CRT-D – The D in this type of device stands for defibrillator. The defibrillator treats both abnormal and fast heart rhythm. In case the beat is slow, the device increases the rate like a conventional pacemaker. However when the heart starts beating dangerously fast, the CRT-D device gives it a small shock that makes the rhythm normal. This is a life-saving device for arrythmia patients.
CRT-P (BIV) – This is the same as the CRT mentioned above. The P stands for pacemaker. This pacemaker makes the two ventricles contract together as well as maintains the pace of the heartbeat. Read more about pacemaker implantation in Delhi.
Who needs CRT?
- Patients having symptoms of heart failure
- Weak Cardiac Muscles
- Ventricles (lower chambers) are unable to work in sync
How CRT is performed?
You will be taken to the procedure room and intravenous fluids are given to make you sleepy and to give you some painkillers. You will be awake during the procedure but you will not feel any kind of pain during the procedure. Local anesthesia is applied to the chest area when CRT needs to be implanted, the area is usually under your left collar bone or clavicle. After numbing the area a small cut is made on the chest area and the CRT wires are sent to the heart via a vein. Once the wires are in place on the two chambers, they are attached to the CRT generator and checked. After that a pocket is created under your chest skin to hold the CRT generator battery. The CRT device is then placed in that area, checked for proper functioning and the incision is closed. You will be sent to the recovery room after the procedure.
What Precautions should I take after CRT device implantation?
- Make sure you don’t skip your follow-up visit whenever Dr Rajiv Agarwal asks you to come to the clinic so that he can check the proper functioning of the CRT device. A follow-up will be required every 6 months to ensure that the device is in perfect working condition.
- You can have your normal diet unless advised otherwise and you are not allowed to perform strenuous activities until cleared by Dr Agarwal as per your heart condition.
- Although highly unlikely, In case of any infection or discharge from the dressing, please report to the clinic immediately.
- Any kind of fever and bleeding etc must not be ignored.
- Don’t keep your cell phone in your shirt pocket, rather keep it in your lower pockets.
- You should not go near high-energy radio waves such as power plants, welding machines, and generators, etc.
- If a doctor suggests you an MRI or any diagnostic procedure, tell them that you have a pacemaker installed so that you can be advised accordingly.
- You can use other electromagnetic appliances such as microwaves, electrical blankets, electric shavers, and remote controls, etc.
- You should avoid smoking as well.
- Please ask the security people to keep the metal detector away from the pacemaker site and carrying a doctor’s prescription is a good idea for that.
Are there any complications?
Cardiac device implantation is a minimal-invasive procedure but it carries a few risks that each and every procedure has such as infection on incision site, movement of pacemaker, etc. These complications are highly unlikely with Dr Rajiv Agarwal as he has decades of experience in dealing with such devices and has a high success rate in his patients.
