Tech That Saves

Innovations are revolutionising treatment for heart failure

- DR T.S. KLER

When Rima Singh, 46, went to her doctor complaining of heart palpitations, she was relieved to be told they were likely the result of too much caffeine and a high blood sugar level. Her relief did not last long. She suffered severe breathing problem with cough in the middle of the night—a sign of acute heart failure—and was rushed to emergency care. Doctors told her that a heart transplant was required for her condition.

Rima’s medical history revealed multiple co-morbidities, including history of a disorder causing inflammation in blood vessels and chronic inflammatory bowel disease. An MRI scan of her brain showed multiple old infarcts—an area of dead tissue resulting from the failure of blood supply. Considering her medical condition, doctors could not do a heart transplant. After detailed examination and ECG analysis, they suggested a heart failure device implantation—also called cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator (CRT-D)—as a last resort. CRT, particularly CRT-D, has been shown to improve symptomatic status, decrease heart failure episodes and improve longevity in many scientific studies. CRT-D performs three functions: it works as a pacemaker; it improves the pumping capacity of the heart; and in case of serious rhythm problem or cardiac arrest, the device can give automatic electric shock to save the patient.

What is heart failure?