If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition, and your doctor has recommended device therapy, this website can help you understand your heart condition and will provide you with information about what to expect before, during, and after your device implant.
STAGE 1: Preparing for your implant
Your doctor has provided you with some information on your heart condition and the therapy or device you may be receiving.
Learn more about heart conditions and related device therapies:
- What condition do I have?
- What therapy or device is used to manage my condition?
- Getting a device and information on the device procedure
- Common questions about your heart device
If you are getting a device, there are several ways you may receive device follow-up and we will explore these options later in this website. One particular mode of device follow up may involve a home monitor which is a home communicator that transmits data directly from your cardiac device to your doctor.
We encourage you to take a short questionnaire to determine the most appropriate home monitor option for you:
When you arrive at the hospital, please let your doctor and technician know what home monitor has been identified in the questionnaire to be the most appropriate for your needs.
Please Note - Not all devices are compatible with all monitoring options. Please consult your doctor for further information.
STAGE 2: At Implant
You will be arriving to the hospital soon to undergo your procedure. Please click on the links below to understand what to expect on the day and immediately after:
- Understand how you need to prepare for the day (fasting, medication)
- What will happen during the procedure
- Precautions to take after your implant procedure
You will receive a temporary ID card at implant, and a permanent ID card will be sent to you within 6-8 weeks after your implant.
In stage one we briefly discussed device follow up options including home monitoring. If your doctor/clinic participates in remote home monitoring, now is the time to speak to them and show them the results from the questionnaire you completed. If you have not completed the questionnaire, CLICK HERE to continue.
Understand how you need to prepare for the day (fasting, medication)
The procedure to implant a cardiac device does not require open heart surgery, and most people go home within 24 hours. Before the surgery, medication may be given to make you sleepy and comfortable. Generally, the procedure is performed under local anaesthesia.
PREPARING FOR YOUR IMPLANT
PLAN YOUR TRANSPORT HOME
It is generally your responsibility to arrange how you will get home after surgery.
FASTING
You doctor may recommend not to eat or drink anything for at least 6 hours prior to surgery. Please consult your doctor for more information.
Remove any jewellery
Just before the procedure you may be asked to remove all your jewellery and put on a hospital gown.
Ask your doctor
Please speak to your doctor if you are able to take your usual medications. Bring your medication with you to show your managing cardiologist, if you are unsure.
You may be asked to stay overnight at the hospital
Be prepared with change of clothes for your stay at the hospital.
If you are still unsure on how to prepare for the day, please consult with your clinic and MANAGING CARDIOLOGIST who will be able to advise you further.
STAGE 3: Following your implant
As mentioned in previous stages your device will require regular follow-up, either by remote home monitoring or in person in clinic.
IN-PERSON
Your managing cardiologist will consult with you on your in-person follow-up schedule. Click here to learn more about general follow-up. Click on the links below to learn more about general follow-up:
If you have further questions concerning in-person follow-up, please contact your clinic directly.
REMOTE HOME MONITORING
If you have selected app-based monitoring or bedside monitoring for your remote home monitoring purposes, please click on the links below to learn about your monitor and how to set it up correctly:
- Patient ID Card
- Learn about remote home monitoring
- How do I set up my Monitor?
- For Medtronic's Remote Monitoring Patient Service
There are many clinics who follow up patients. For Medtronic's Remote Monitoring Patient Service your clinic information will be provided to you before, during or after the implant.
Follow-up Care and Monitoring
FOLLOW-UP CARE AND MONITORING
Now that you have received your cardiac device, follow-up is required to ensure that therapy is optimal. Timing for follow-up varies from clinic to clinic and from doctor to doctor, but your first appointment will usually occur within six weeks after surgery, and the second appointment usually three to four months later. After the second appointment, follow-up will depend on your doctor’s preference and his/her assessment of your condition; but these visits will usually occur every six to twelve months.
You should receive an appointment for your first follow-up visit before you leave the hospital. As a general rule, you should see your heart doctor at least every twelve months.
During these check-ups, your doctor may:
- Check the battery status of the cardiac device
- Check the leads to determine how they are working with the cardiac device and your heart
- Review your cardiac device (if present) settings to ensure they are programmed appropriately to your medical needs
- Make programming adjustments to your cardiac device
In addition to these check-ups with your doctor, your clinic or practice may choose to have your cardiac device checked through remote monitoring. This remote monitoring can replace some visits, but not all. Your doctor may still need to perform a physical examination to adjust your cardiac device settings or medications.
Important Information for Patients who received an Insertable Cardiac Monitors.
If your doctor prescribed a patient activator or symptom marker please review this video to learn more about how to use this device with your loop recorder. Please do not be concerned if your doctor did not prescribe a patient activator or symptom marker. This may not be required as part of your care.
STAGE 4: Living with your device
Get access to informative brochures for living with your device
References
1
Ganzeboom KS, et al, Lifetime cumulative incidence of syncope in the general population: a study of 549 Dutch subjects aged 35-60 years. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2006 Nov; 17(11):1172-6.
2
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018. Emergency department care 2017–18: Australian hospital statistics. Health services series no. 89. Cat. no. HSE 216. Canberra: AIHW.
3
Mendu ML, McAvay G, Lampert R, Stoehr J, Tinetti ME. Yield of diagnostic tests in evaluating syncopal episodes in older patients. Arch Intern Med. July 27, 2009;169(14):1299-1305.
4
Heart Foundation Australia
https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/images/uploads/publications/CON-175_Atrial_Fibrillation_WEB.PDF
5
Stroke Foundation. National Stroke Audit Acute Services Report 2017. Melbourne, Australia.