My husband got his first (and probably only) pacemaker on Monday, Feb. 17, at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth TX. He got a Medtronic Micra AV. He was the first person to get this new PM in the Fort Worth area. I posted about this on my FB page, but did not mention my husband’s other medical issues.
So far, I am thrilled with the outcome and much to be thankful for. So many medical professionals went to bat for my husband to get this.
This is a dual-chamber lead-less, transcatheter PM. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved it Jan. 21, 2020, and Medicare approved coverage Feb. 13 — 4 days before my husband’s procedure. According to an article at bioworld.com, it won’t be in widespread use until late April. Medtronics is now working to train EPs.
Our cardiologist, Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy (aka Dr. Mo), and the electrophysiologist, Aleem Mughal, pulled a lot of strings to get this approved for my husband. At the EP consult on Jan. 28, Dr. Mughal said he would implant the single-chamber Micra (approved in 2016), but if the Micra AV got Medicare’s green light by Jan. 17, he would implant that one. I wasn’t holding my breath.
My husband was not the ”normal” PM candidate. John, who will be 74 next month, was diagnosed 8 years ago with early onset Alzheimer’s. He was able to work until age 69 1/2. He had MV repair in May 2007 to replace chordae that ruptured in a car crash.
After my husband had worn several event monitors and had a 911 crisis at a Walmart in 2019, our cardiologist said it was to consider a pacemaker. Because of the Alzheimer’s, it was not an easy decision for me, his medical POA.
If any of you have a loved one with dementia, you know that hospital stays are usually, if not always, a nightmare. General anesthesia often exacerbates dementia (think permanent ICU psychosis).
The anesthesiologist used the same anesthesia and amount that was used by amother doctor in 2016 when John had hernia repair. Sitters were brought in until he was discharged Tuesday around noon. I stayed overnight.
Dr. Mughal removed the single stitch at the entry point Tuesday morning and said the deeper tissue was already healing. He’ll recheck the wound on Thursday (Feb. 27). He will recheck John on March 20 and Dr. Mo will take over from there.
So far, it appears we’ve dodged the bullet on a sudden cognitive decline. (WHEW!) He has more energy throughout most of the day and looks younger in the face. He says he feels better. He has had no discomfort or pain whatsoever.
I have much to be thankful for. First of all, setting the date for Feb. 17, right after the Medicare approval.
He had a great EP who was caring and excited to do this procedure.
We also have a spectacular cardiologist. Dr. Mo is director of cardiology, chief of the medical staff and chief of the cardiovascular division at Baylor All Saints.
These men knew a traditional pacemaker would be the wrong choice for a dementia patient. Dr. Mughal considers taking dementia patients on a case-by-case basis.
Now we can resume plans to travel by car and plane. To enjoy more of life while we can. And not have to worry about another medical crisis.
I am attaching a photo taken at a restaurant 3 days after his procedure.
So far, I am thrilled with the outcome and much to be thankful for. So many medical professionals went to bat for my husband to get this.
This is a dual-chamber lead-less, transcatheter PM. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved it Jan. 21, 2020, and Medicare approved coverage Feb. 13 — 4 days before my husband’s procedure. According to an article at bioworld.com, it won’t be in widespread use until late April. Medtronics is now working to train EPs.
Our cardiologist, Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy (aka Dr. Mo), and the electrophysiologist, Aleem Mughal, pulled a lot of strings to get this approved for my husband. At the EP consult on Jan. 28, Dr. Mughal said he would implant the single-chamber Micra (approved in 2016), but if the Micra AV got Medicare’s green light by Jan. 17, he would implant that one. I wasn’t holding my breath.
My husband was not the ”normal” PM candidate. John, who will be 74 next month, was diagnosed 8 years ago with early onset Alzheimer’s. He was able to work until age 69 1/2. He had MV repair in May 2007 to replace chordae that ruptured in a car crash.
After my husband had worn several event monitors and had a 911 crisis at a Walmart in 2019, our cardiologist said it was to consider a pacemaker. Because of the Alzheimer’s, it was not an easy decision for me, his medical POA.
If any of you have a loved one with dementia, you know that hospital stays are usually, if not always, a nightmare. General anesthesia often exacerbates dementia (think permanent ICU psychosis).
The anesthesiologist used the same anesthesia and amount that was used by amother doctor in 2016 when John had hernia repair. Sitters were brought in until he was discharged Tuesday around noon. I stayed overnight.
Dr. Mughal removed the single stitch at the entry point Tuesday morning and said the deeper tissue was already healing. He’ll recheck the wound on Thursday (Feb. 27). He will recheck John on March 20 and Dr. Mo will take over from there.
So far, it appears we’ve dodged the bullet on a sudden cognitive decline. (WHEW!) He has more energy throughout most of the day and looks younger in the face. He says he feels better. He has had no discomfort or pain whatsoever.
I have much to be thankful for. First of all, setting the date for Feb. 17, right after the Medicare approval.
He had a great EP who was caring and excited to do this procedure.
We also have a spectacular cardiologist. Dr. Mo is director of cardiology, chief of the medical staff and chief of the cardiovascular division at Baylor All Saints.
These men knew a traditional pacemaker would be the wrong choice for a dementia patient. Dr. Mughal considers taking dementia patients on a case-by-case basis.
Now we can resume plans to travel by car and plane. To enjoy more of life while we can. And not have to worry about another medical crisis.
I am attaching a photo taken at a restaurant 3 days after his procedure.
