For Immediate Release
Hospital Contact:
Richard Woehl
(512) 407-7584
Richard.Woehl@hearthospitalofaustin.com
Public Relations Contact:
Emily Schmitz
(512) 630-8068
eschmitz@austin.rr.com
Heart Hospital of Austin First in Central Texas to Use New Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
Electrophysiologist Says Defibrillators Could Save Thousands of Lives from Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Austin, TX-August 6, 2008- On Monday, August 4th, Dr. David Tschopp implanted the Cognis defibrillator, the smallest and thinnest Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator to date at the HeartHospital of Austin. HeartHospital of Austin was the first hospital in Central Texas to implant the ground-breaking device.
The increased use of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) could save thousands of lives from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, the most common cause of death in this country. Sudden Cardiac Arrest strikes 350,000 Americans every year and leaves very few survivors.
Continuing evidence suggests that preventive measures with devices such as implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs, may prevent catastrophic events from occurring. ICDs are used to treat patients with abnormally fast heart rhythms, a condition called ventricular tachycardia that can cause sudden cardiac arrest. The abnormal heart rhythm is caused by an electrical rhythm malfunction in the lower chambers of the heart that causes the heart to pump ineffectively.
Austin Heart Electrophysiologist, Dr. David Kessler says, “Many patients are at risk for sudden cardiac death and may not even know it. More patients need to be screened and possibly treated with ICDs to prevent future events.”
On Wednesday, August 6th, Dr. Kessler implanted the Cognis defibrillator in Round Rock resident, Laverne Rinken. Rinken suffered a heart attack in May of this year and now has congestive heart failure. Her heart muscle function has been compromised significantly and the ICD device is intended to help her survive sudden cardiac arrest, should a future event occur. The ICD is designed to also provide a normal heart rhythm and improve her heart muscle efficiency. “I’m looking forward to regaining my strength and being able to do the things I love most”, says Rinken.
The Cognis implantable cardioverter defibrillator has a 10 mm profile as compare to traditional ICDs that have a 15 mm profile. The thinner design means greater patient comfort. The Cognis also has a longer battery life with self-correcting software and improved programming technology.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)Fact Sheet:
The survival rate for SCA is as high as 90% if treatment is initiated within five minutes of the arrest
- For every additional minute, the survival rate decreases by 10%
- An estimated 95% of SCA victims die before they reach a hospital or source of emergency help
- Nearly 1,000 people die every day (one person every two minutes) from SCA
- Half of all cardiac-related deaths are attributed to SCA
For more information, contact Emily Schmitz at (512) 630-8068.
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Interview opportunities for Thursday, August 7th , after 8am:
Laverne Rinken-- Patient
Dr. David Kessler –Electrophysiologist, Austin Heart