Biventricular Pacemaker
Memorial Regional Hospital First in Broward With New Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure
November 2001 — By the time Clarence Robinson of Pembroke Pines was diagnosed with congestive heart failure earlier this year, he was dramatically short of breath and could not sleep at night.
"I would wake up feeling like I was drowning, because there was so much fluid in my lungs," says Robinson. "I felt very, very tired all the time and couldn't even take out the garbage without panting like a dog."
Today, the 67-year-old computer teacher has pep in his step, the energy he needs for the profession he loves and, he sleeps like a baby. Robinson attributes his return to good health to the biventricular pacemaker he received at Memorial Regional Hospital on September 19, 2001.
This new type of pacemaker was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of congestive heart failure in August 2001. Robinson is the first person in Broward County to receive the device.
"This pacemaker improves the function of the heart by electronically synchronizing the beat of the heart," explains Peter V. Garcia, M.D., board-certified cardiologist and electrophysiologist (heart rhythm specialist) on the medical staff at Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Hospital West and Memorial Hospital Pembroke.
"Unlike the pacemakers that most people are familiar with, where there are two leads, one in left atrium and one in left ventricle, the biventricular pacemaker has three leads, with the third lead in the right ventricle."
Help for Weak Hearts
There are about 5 million men and women in the United States with congestive heart failure, most of whom rely on medication to strengthen their weakened hearts. While these treatments can be effective, they cannot stop the disease from progressing. Eventually, fatigue, shortness of breath and swelling in the legs and feet limit activities and affect quality of life. Half of all patients with congestive heart failure die of the disease within five years of diagnosis.
"People who have symptoms of congestive heart failure at rest or with minimal exertion can benefit from the biventricular pacemaker," says Dr. Garcia. "They are typically at maximum pharmaceutical therapy and are what we define as Class III or Class IV congestive heart failure."
Congestive heart failure is often aggravated by ventricular dyssynchrony, a time delay that throws the heart rhythm out of sync. The biventricular pacemaker addresses this problem.
Immediate and Dramatic Results
Robinson was wheeled into the operating room at Memorial Regional Hospital and given just enough anesthesia to be awake and relaxed during the procedure. Dr. Garcia placed the tiny pacemaker, which is the size of two stacked silver dollars, under the skin on Robinson's chest. After the procedure, Robinson was taken to a hospital room for overnight observation.
"The next day I felt fine and was very bored, so I got up and started walking the halls," says Robinson with a laugh. "I walked all over trying to wear myself out and couldn't do it!"
Dr. Garcia notes that the pacemaker does not cure congestive heart failure, but it does improve Robinson's quality of life by alleviating the symptoms of his condition. Robinson concurs, "It's amazing. I have no shortness of breath and no trouble sleeping at night. I can't describe the difference in the way I feel. Let's just say I'm in awe."