Guidant Defibrillators
Guidant defibrillators are used as a method of treatment for ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), two heart conditions involving the rhythm of the heart (arrhythmia). Both conditions have the potential to be fatal.
Using medicines and surgery, tachyarrhythmias can sometimes be treated without the use of an implant. The purpose of non-implant methods of treatment is to eliminate the heart tissue causing the arrhythmia. When this method of treatment fails, an implanted electronic device such as a Guidant defibrillator may be used to treat the condition. An implant device delivers electrical current to the heart in order to slow it to a more normal rhythm.
In the event of an emergency, an arrhythmia can be treated by on-site medical personnel using a traditional external defibrillator. However, the long-term treatment of a patient suffering from one of these two types of arrhythmias requires a special solution, such as a Guidant defibrillator.
Your physician may recommend a Guidant defibrillator-type device for one or more of the following reasons:
- You have experienced at least one episode of VT or VF.
- You have passed out due to an irregular heartbeat.
- You have noticed an especially fast, reoccurring heartbeat.
- Medicinal or surgery-based treatments for your heart condition in the past have failed to yield acceptable results.
- You have incurred serious side effects from drug therapies.
- You have suffered a heart attack and your ejection fraction is relatively low.
A Guidant defibrillator can use multiple types of energy to restart a failing heart, including:
- Defibrillation – For highly irregular, very fast heart rhythms, the Guidant defibrillators can deliver a high energy shock to restore the heart to a normal rhythm.
- Cardioversion – If the arrhythmia is especially fast, the Guidant defibrillator can deliver a one-time, low energy shock to align the heart to a normal rhythm.
- Anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) – For fast rhythms within a semi-normal range, the Guidant defibrillator sends a series of rapid, small pacing pulses to interrupt the arrhythmia.
Beginning in May of 2005, the manufacturers of Guidant defibrillators, Guidant Corporation, began to notify physicians about the potential of certain models to short circuit and fail due to a faulty electrical switch. In the event of such a malfunction, the patient using the implant would almost certainly endure serious injury or death. Guidant reasoned that additional surgery to replace a potentially faulty Guidant defibrillator posed a greater medical risk than did the defibrillators themselves and chose not to immediately inform the public of their discovery.
In June of 2005, under pressure from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Guidant voluntarily issued a Guidant defibrillator recall. On January 21, 2006, additional Guidant defibrillator models were named in the Guidant defibrillator recall.
The table below lists all Guidant defibrillator models subject to the Guidant defibrillator recall and combines both populations into a single list. If your model of Guidant defibrillator is listed below, it is likely a Guidant defibrillator recall lawyer can assist you in receiving compensation for your faulty Guidant defibrillator by either settling your claim with the manufacturer or by filing a Guidant defibrillator lawsuit.
Device Family | Model |
| Discovery II | 0481, 0981, 1184, 1186, 1187, 1283, 1284, 1285, 1286 |
| Discovery | 1174, 1175, 1273, 1274, 1275 |
| Pulsar | 0470, 0870, 0970, 0972, 1172, 1272 |
| Intelis II | 1483, 1484, 1485, 1384, 1385, 1349, 1499 |
| Virtus Plus II | 1380, 1480 |
| Pulsar Max | 1170, 1171, 1270 |
| Pulsar Max II | 1180, 1181, 1280 |
| Meridian | 0476, 0976, 1176, 1276 |
| Contak TR | 1241 |
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