Bengaluru: Life had turned upside down for 55-year-old Kantilal Tated, a city-based businessman ever since he fainted for the first time 3 years ago. With no family history of heart disease and enjoying fairly good health, this came as a shock.
Ever since that fateful day, he has been losing consciousness, with each bout lasting for 5-10 minutes, once or twice every year. He underwent CT scan, EEG and brain MRI for evaluation of his condition.
“To determine the cause of recurrent fainting, palpitations, unexplained stroke or atrial fibrillation, a patient’s heart must be monitored effectively over time so the doctor can diagnose the disorder accurately. Cardiac monitors help doctors to continuously monitor the heart by providing a reliable snapshot of each patient’s cardiac activity, allowing them to accurately diagnose and monitor each patient,” explained Dr Jayaprakash Shenthar, Professor of Cardiology and Electrophysiology and Unit Chief, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research.
He advised Kantilal to undergo long-term cardiac monitoring with the help of the unique Medtronic Reveal LINQ TM Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM). After consultation with his family, Kantilal agreed to have an implant.
“The Reveal LINQ ICM continuously monitors the heart so that physicians get a reliable snapshot of a patient’s cardiac activity, allowing them to accurately diagnose and monitor each patient. As the ICM is placed under the skin, you do not have to use sticky recording pads on your body or worry about connecting any wires,” said Dr Jayaprakash, who performed the surgery making it the first implant in India.
“It continuously and wirelessly monitors the heart, and sends information to a patient’s physician to help them make right diagnosis and devise treatment plan,” he added.
Dr Jayaprakash said, “The battery of the device lasts up to 3 years. The device automatically transmits data to physicians through wireless connection and is also MRI compatible.” After the surgery Kantilal is doing fine, Dr Jayaprakash said.
How the device works
The cardiac monitor is small and is placed under the skin of the chest through an outpatient procedure. The device detects and records abnormal heart rhythms over long periods of time (up to three years) to help determine whether a patient has an abnormal heart rhythm.The smallest ICM available (1.2 cc), the LINQ ICM has more data memory than other ICMs, and the same battery life.
It continuously and wirelessly monitors the heart, and sends information to a patient’s physicians to help them make an accurate diagnosis and determine a treatment plan. LINQ ICM is practically invisible on most; patients, being approximately one-third the size of a triple-A battery.
