This section sets out to answer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s), and indeed Less Frequently Asked Questions, by recipients or carers of ICDs.
Q. My wife has an ICD. Will this cause any particular problem with the mammogram breast screening procedure?
A. Thank you for your request concerning the safety of mammography with subcutaneous ICD’s. I can assure you, and your wife, that there is no risk from routine screening. Many of the women who are screened in Gloucestershire and nationally have pacemakers of various types, and these are not at risk during the examination. Usually the position is above the breast tissue, our radiographers are trained and skilled in positioning women so there is minimal discomfort, and the films obtained are of a high quality for reporting. As regards other methods of screening, there is no other method which we would recommend in women at normal risk. Mammography has the highest sensitivity and specificity and is evidence-based. I hope this information is helpful to you and to your Support Group
Dr. Harriet Russell
Associate Specialist Breast Clinician, Gloucestershire Breast Screening Service
Q. I need to have surgery however the hospital is unsure on how to temporarily inactivate my ICD.
A. Nicola Meldrum assured the Group that appropriate hospitals in the catchment area of JRH ICD Implantation capability had been informed and should be routinely aware of the means to temporarily inactivate an ICD. Should anyone have similar problems in the future, it is recommended that the hospital/medical facility concerned requiring further guidance should telephone either Nicola Meldrum directly (01865-221667), or alternatively the Cardiology Ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital (01865-220420).
Q. I have an ICD and my notebook computers information booklet says that Wi-Fi can interfere with pacemakers or other medical devices, and Wi-Fi should be switched of when near a person fitted with one of these devices, and the "instructions of your medical device" should be followed.
A. The question was posed to St Jude Medical, the manufacturer of the recipients ICD. They replied:
St.Jude Medical pacemakers and ICDs are designed to meet applicable international standards. St Jude Medical pacemakers and ICDs are equipped with effective filters that considerably reduce or even eliminate the risk of EMI. Having router at home should not cause any interference to our SJM implantable units due to the very high radio frequencies and very low power levels of the system. We are not aware of even one case, where wireless data network devices have interfered with our pacemakers or ICDs. In the most unlikely event that you feel discomfort in the immediate vicinity of a strong WLAN transmitter, just increase the distance to it and the discomfort should disappear. Note time and date of the event. Discuss it with your ICD clinic next time you see them. They can then analyze the diagnostic data stored in the memory of your ICD and compare with your notes.
Q. Will my Ipod or MP3 player interfere with my ICD?
A. The MHRA advises that patients with pacemakers or defibrillators can use personal electronic equipment such as iPods and other brands of disk-based or solid state MP3 players with negligible risk, providing they are not placed directly over the implant. Maintaining a separation distance of at least 15cm (6 inches) between the two avoids interference effects. The same advice holds true for mobile phones and palm/pocket PCs etc
Q. I have an ICD and will be traveling abroad. Where can I get information on local ICD Clinics in case I need one?
A. You will need to find local medical facilities to where you are traveling just in case you require assistance. If you have a Medtronic ICD, they have a special section on their web site devoted to Worldwide Clinics. www.medtronic.com/Traveling/
The Boston Scientific (formerly Guidant) Web site also has a lot of information to help you with your travel plans and emergency contact details. Click here to find the facilities in the country you are visiting.
Q. I have an ICD and I want to talk to a medical person.
A. If your ICD is being managed by the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, you may contact Nicola Meldrum (bleep 4181) or Elaine Watson (bleep 1031), the ICD Nursing Specialists. Their telephone number is 01865 221667. Out of hours, call the Cardiology Ward on 01865 220420.
If you have been transferred to the Gloucestershire Hospital Trust, you may call the Pacemaker Clinic on 08454 223561. Out of hours you may contact the Cardiac Care Unit 08454 228433
Q. It has been suggested that an exercise machine called Power Plate might be beneficial to help with physical problems unconnected with my heart condition.
A. Thank you for your e-mail to Medtronic regarding the possibility of using vibrating body trainers with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) which has been passed to me for response. Vibrating body trainers, or power plates, produce mechanical/physical vibrations, from which energy is transferred to the human body. This mechanical stimulus produces a stretch reflex resulting in the muscles constantly contracting vigorously. This phenomenon, called super-compensation, occurs when training on the Power Plate.
The vibrating plate is powered by two electric motors which generate a vibrating frequency between 30 and 60 Hz. The vibrating frequency can be selected by the user. The G-forces produced by the plate are selectable between 1.86 and 6.24 G. Although Medtronic have not tested the effect of the Power Plates on ICDs we recommend that they are not used by individuals with implanted cardiac devices. The high G-forces at the high repeating frequencies may lead to mechanical stress of the lead(s) and ICD in the surgical pocket. Therefore, continuation of proper implanted system performance cannot be guaranteed for an ICD patient using the Power Plate.
Lezlie Bridge
Director Manager, UK & Ireland
Medtronic Ltd
Suite One, Building 5
Croxley Business Centre
Watford, Herts WD18 8WW
Q. I have bought a set of digital scales and the literature says not to use them if you have a Pacemaker or other implanted device. Why is this?
A. Some modern digital scales can also measure your Body Mass Index (BMI). To achieve this you have to stand on the scales with bare feet and a small electric current is fed into your body to help in the calculation. Naturally with a Pacemaker or an ICD this is not good news which is why the manufacturers advise you not use them.
Q. If I have an ICD, can I claim any State Benefits?
A. There is no specific state benefit for just ICD recipients, however there may be other medical conditions that will make a particular benefit appropriate.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for disabled people under 65. To get DLA, you must have personal care needs or difficulty with walking (also called mobility) because of either a physical or mental disability. DLA has two parts, the care component and the mobility component. The care component is paid at three rates depending on how often and how much you need care. The mobility component is paid at two rates, depending on how much difficulty you have with walking. Depending on your needs, you may get one component of DLA, or both together.
Attendance Allowance (AA) is a benefit if you are disabled, you have care needs and you are 65 or over. You must not be living permanently in hospital or accommodation funded by a local authority, for example, a local authority care home.
If you consider one of the above Benefits may be applicable to you, you may obtain further information from Citizens Advice. www.adviceguide.org.uk Completing application forms for these benefits can be daunting however you may contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for free and independent help.
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