Carl Irelan has had heart problems of one type or another for a number of years. Carl has had two heart attacks, triple bypass surgery, and heart failure.

But Carl said that he now has "peace of mind" after receiving an implanted cardiac device and the LATITUDE® Patient Management system. The system works with his heart device and sends information over a phone line to a secure website that Carl's doctor can view. Carl and his wife, Ruth, who recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary, live in Indiana.

Treatment for Heart Failure: A CRT Device with Defibrillator

Over time Carl developed heart failure, a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood or oxygen to meet the body's needs. Sometimes pumping problems occur because the heart's contractions are not coordinated. An implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device can help coordinate the pumping of the heart's lower chambers, the ventricles.

Carl's heart failure symptoms had gotten to the point where "when I went out to put my bird feeders in the garage one night, I could hardly get down the hill," he explained. "I had to rest after I got down there."

For many heart failure patients like Carl, who have shortness of breath, the device can improve symptoms. Carl's doctor, Dr. Mark A. Dixon, recommended that Carl receive a CRT device that also has a defibrillator.

Alerting Carl's Doctor to Life-Threatening Heart Rhythms: LATITUDE Patient Management System

Very soon after Carl had his device implanted, he received the LATITUDE Patient Management system to use at home. This system uses a small piece of equipment called a Communicator. The Communicator sits on Carl's nightstand and remotely gathers data from his heart failure device. The device data are then sent through his phone line to a secure website that his doctor can view. In some situations the system can also send an alert to the doctor.

Carl may not have guessed just how soon this system would send alert information to his doctor. Within a few weeks, Carl had episodes of dangerously fast heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. These arrhythmias were treated with high-energy shocks from the defibrillator portion of Carl's CRT device.

Even though Carl usually passed out during arrhythmias, he remembers a couple of the episodes. The first time, he was working in his garden. "I just blacked out," Carl said. "I remember [the device shocked] me four times," he said, or maybe more. Another time, Carl remembers coming to with "my head on the arm of the chair."

The LATITUDE Patient Management system alerted Dr. Dixon about the defibrillator treatment. "These episodes were, in fact, life-threatening arrhythmias," Dr. Dixon noted. "He received several defibrillator discharges, approximately 10," to stop the arrhythmias and allow his heart to resume a normal rate. "The information provided by the LATITUDE system enabled us to know...that this patient was, in fact, having arrhythmias" rather than having side effects from a medication, Dr. Dixon explained.

When Dr. Dixon received the alert, he immediately called Carl in for an office visit. Dr. Dixon decided that Carl needed an ablation. An ablation is a procedure that senses the heart's electrical signals and ablates (destroys) small, carefully chosen portions of the heart muscle.

The Result: Carl Is More Active, Feeling Safer

With the CRT device, Carl said his heart failure symptoms have been relieved somewhat. "I can lift more. I can walk longer. I'm more like myself now.

"I don't overdo it," he said. "Not like I did when I was 25, but it's pretty good. I can do what I want to be able to do."

As for the LATITUDE Patient Management system, Carl said, "I would say I feel safer with it."

Carl said his doctor can track his symptoms remotely, with daily and weekly checks. "I take my blood pressure every morning and check my weight," said Carl. These readings are then sent through the secure system.

So are the readings from Carl's weekly symptom reports. A blinking light on the Communicator lets Carl know that it's time to answer the personal health questions. "Every Monday morning the system asks me about six questions, such as, 'How about climbing stairs?', 'How many pillows do you use at night?', 'Do you have any swelling in your legs or ankles?', There's really nothing to it."

In conclusion, Carl said that the LATITUDE Patient Management system "is great. And it has helped me—just for peace of mind."
Note: Individual symptoms, situations, and circumstances may vary. Please consult your physician or qualified health provider regarding your condition and appropriate medical treatment. The information provided is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice.