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What Is The Life Expectancy After Implanting Defibrillator With 19% Ejection Fraction?
Question: is there a level of ejection fraction that makes it illegal , unsafe or inadvisable to drive please in uk my husband is due to have defibrillater fitted and his ef is 19% will this improve after fitting? is 19% ef classed as terminal hf??
Brief Answer:
Following answers to your queries...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.
Your husband has very low ejection fraction and based on that value is classified as a patient with severe heart failure and usually is referred as end stage heart failure.
Implanted defibrillator is of help in converting ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation into sinusal rhythm. By doing so it's of help in treating sudden death in this patients, which is the principal complication in patients with severe heart failure.
In patients with severe heart failure isn't advisable to drive because of risk of sudden death and pulmonary edema.
Wish you and your family health!
Dr.Benard
Following answers to your queries...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.
Your husband has very low ejection fraction and based on that value is classified as a patient with severe heart failure and usually is referred as end stage heart failure.
Implanted defibrillator is of help in converting ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation into sinusal rhythm. By doing so it's of help in treating sudden death in this patients, which is the principal complication in patients with severe heart failure.
In patients with severe heart failure isn't advisable to drive because of risk of sudden death and pulmonary edema.
Wish you and your family health!
Dr.Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi thank you for your response, sorry to sound naïve, but does end stage heart failure mean terminal? surely the would not be wanting to give him an implantable cardiac defibrillator if he is terminally ill? apart from helping with a situation of sudden cardiac death will his def. help improve his ejection fraction or delay decompensation in heart failure??
he is not bed bound or house bound... is not very active but able to go for a walk, drive the car and do little shopping but gets very fatigued and spends quite a large part of the day just relaxing or sleeping..... what is the prognosis for end stage heart failure please??
he is not bed bound or house bound... is not very active but able to go for a walk, drive the car and do little shopping but gets very fatigued and spends quite a large part of the day just relaxing or sleeping..... what is the prognosis for end stage heart failure please??
Brief Answer:
I advise to implant ICD to improve life expectancy
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
There are slight differences between these two terms. Terminal heart failure is the last phase of end stage heart failure.
My advice is that he should implant cardiac defibrillator because this will prevent sudden death and will prolong the life expectancy of your husband.
End stage heart failure has a poor prognosis if it's not treated properly. However if ICD (defibrillator) is implanted and is treated with apropiate medical therapy the prognosis may become better. In such cases the life may prolong to 3-5 years.
Wish you and your family health!
Dr.Benard
I advise to implant ICD to improve life expectancy
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
There are slight differences between these two terms. Terminal heart failure is the last phase of end stage heart failure.
My advice is that he should implant cardiac defibrillator because this will prevent sudden death and will prolong the life expectancy of your husband.
End stage heart failure has a poor prognosis if it's not treated properly. However if ICD (defibrillator) is implanted and is treated with apropiate medical therapy the prognosis may become better. In such cases the life may prolong to 3-5 years.
Wish you and your family health!
Dr.Benard
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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