Pulse - Fall 2012

• 2012-12-03

Welcome to the Pulse, the newsletter that provides club news and information of interest to our battery-operated members.  In this edition, you will learn of some new famous members, read about a new website for patients, see action photos from fellow members, and read other helpful information.  

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New Famous Members    Cardiac devices are implanted in people from all walks of life, including world-class athletes, politicians, business leaders & celebrities. Pacemaker Club welcomes the following famous people to the Club.     Brett MacLean
Former NHL Player

MacLean, age 23, realized his childhood dream of playing in the NHL during a 13-game stint with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010-11 and five games with the reborn Winnipeg Jets at the start of last season. He was eventually reclaimed on waivers by Phoenix and spent the rest of last season playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) with Portland.

In the prime of his life and in top physical shape, he experienced sudden cardiac arrest this summer during a fun game of hockey with friends.  Fortunately for MacLean, there were people around who started acting quickly. Two fellow players performed CPR until a local firefighter could retrieve the arena’s automatic external defibrillator -- better known as an AED -- and shock him back to life. Paramedics soon arrived and he was airlifted to a hospital. With the cause of MacLean’s cardiac arrest unknown, doctors inserted an implantable cardiac defibrillator.

MacLean’s medical condition will end his professional hockey career, but he has vowed to turn it into something positive.  He is now volunteering with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to launch a new CPR public awareness campaign.

Stan Lee
Comic Book Legend

The co-creator of Spider-Man, X-Men and the Avengers is characteristically upbeat about recently having a pacemaker implanted at age 89.  

His official statement about his health condition reads. 

“In an effort to be more like my fellow Avenger, Tony Stark, I have had an electronic pace-maker placed near my heart to insure that I’ll be able to lead thee for another 90 years.”

Mark Farner
Classic Rocker

Mark Farner of the legendary classic rock group Grand Funk Railroad had a pacemaker implanted this Fall.  His wife Lesia broke news of his condition on his official website.

"Back home now and settled in," she wrote. "Mark is doing well. He’s very sore and has had the wind knocked out of his sails temporarily. Doc said don’t baby him so he’s been up and around a bit. He’s a trooper!"

She added: "He’s making a lot of effort to not let the stiffness set in so he doesn’t lose range of motion. The plan is to finish out the calendar for the year, take it easy over the winter and come back strong for 2013. Mark is in good spirits and still has that sense of humor about him. Says he is eager to get back on stage. Doc says no problem (and that) he’ll be back at it in no time!"

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More Americans Getting Pacemakers

The number of Americans getting pacemakers implanted has risen in the past two decades - and the recipients are increasingly older and sicker, a new Journal of the American College of Cardiology study finds. For the new study, researchers looked at a national database on U.S. hospital discharges. They found that between 1993 and 2009, nearly three million Americans had a pacemaker implanted.

Other study findings include:

• The number of implantations increased 56 percent from 1993 to 2009. 
• 188,700 implantations were performed in 2009.
• In 2009, dual chamber pacemakers were implanted 82% of the time.
• The average age of patients rose from 73 to 75 years by 2009.
• On average, hospital charges increased by 45 percent - from $53,700 in 1993 to $78,000 in 2009, based on 2011 dollars.
• The rate of infection increased more than implantations.  There were 2,660 infections in 1993 and 8,230 in 2008. About two percent of all patients over the study period developed an infection.

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HeartDeviceInfection.com
 
HeartDeviceInfection.com, is TYRX Inc.’s new patient education web site, in support of its AIGISRx® Antibacterial Envelope technology, designed to help reduce surgical-site infections associated with heart devices, specifically pacemakers and implantable defibrillators (ICDs).

The new web site targets patients and caregivers, and has been created to raise awareness of surgical-site infections associated with heart device implants, and to offer information and resources that may help in reducing that risk. The web site also includes a “Physician Finder” so that patients and caregivers can locate physicians in their area who utilize the AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope.

Patients with surgical-site infections following heart device procedures spend an average of two extra weeks in the hospital, undergo repeat surgical procedures to treat the infection, and cost the facility an average of $72,485. Additionally, these patients experience significant increases in morbidity and mortality.

 The AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope:

• Is associated with 70% to 100% fewer infections, compared to patients without the Envelope, in large published studies FDA-cleared since 2008
• Specifically designed to aid in the stabilization of heart device placement
• Elutes minocycline & rifampin over a 7 to 10 day period – site specific, sustained, antibacterial protection
• Implanted in thousands of patients
  
  For more information, please visit www.HeartDeviceInfection.com or www.TYRX.com.

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Strange, but true.

When a heart patient’s pacemaker lead became dislodged during a coughing fit, she found there was only one life-saving solution that would keep her heart beating: She had to hang upside-down.  For an unknown reason, the bizarre treatment reconnected the medical device and allowed it to continue stimulating her heart.

Her massive husband carried her by her ankles into the hospital emergency room.  This incredible story was recounted in Discover Magazine by Dr Louis F. Janeira, a cardiac electro-physiologist in Terre Haute, Indiana, who treated the woman.

To read the full story, visit Discover Magazine.

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Member Action Shots

Thanks to your implantable device, you can now worry less about your heart condition and enjoy a more active life like these members. 

                      ABelle - Snowboarding                             

Katelyn - Hiking Machu Picchu

Hajones - Surf Fishing

To view other member photos or to share your own action shots, visit the Gallery

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Power Pack Special

All members can purchase a Power Pack of our most popular merchandise for just $25.95, save over 15%, receive a free membership card and support the club. Our Power Pack includes our You’re Pacing When book, pacemaker-shaped keychain, identification card holder and welcome letter. Visit SHOP in the top menu.

Happy Pacing and Zapping In The New Year!