By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A DOCTOR responsible for fitting a Doveton man with a revolutionary new defibrillator that delivers lifesaving shocks without the need for electrical leads to enter the heart, has praised the technology.
Mark Heenan, 53, underwent the special heart operation at Monash Heart Clayton last Tuesday, which saw the Doveton resident become the first man in Australia implanted with the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD), to protect him against the risk of cardiac arrest.
The new defibrillator, already available overseas but only approved by the Australian Government this month, is seen as a significant advantage for patients because it avoids the risk of life-threatening infections that could travel directly to the veins and heart through electrical leads.
The subcutaneous defibrillator was implanted just below Mr Heenan’s armpit, with the electrical lead inserted under the skin and along his breast bone.
Mr Heenan, who is already on heart medication, agreed to the operation after he was recognised by doctors as being at risk of having an electrical fault in his heart.
Monash Heart electro physiologist Emily Kotschet said the new technology significantly reduced the risks associated with regular defibrillators.
“The risk during the procedure is less because the actual implant has less risk – normally you have to poke around with a needle to find the vein to the heart and now you don’t have to do this,” she said.
“And in the long term, you don’t have the risk of having a lead in the heart – the lead can sometimes break and often can’t be pulled it out, so it’s stuck there.
“This operation was made available for us to do and we’re innovative and we wanted to try it.”
But Dr Kotschet noted that the subcutaneous defibrillator would not always be suitable.
“It’s not for every patient, it’s what we call a shock box, it gives a cardiac shot like the ambulance would,” she said.
“But it can’t do all the fancy pace maker work, it’s a simplified version but a number of patients who need a defibrillator just need the shock box.”
Mr Heenan underwent the surgery for an hour and was required to stay overnight at Monash Heart as a precaution.
“He’ll have a week off work and then he’ll be back paying taxes,” Dr Kotschet said.
