Medtronic Attorneys, Williams Kherkher

Atrial Fibrillation and Ventrical Tachycardia

Atrial Fibrillation is the medical term for when the atria of the heart contract at a rate much faster than normal. When the atria contract more quickly than normal, it causes the ventricles to contract equally as quickly causing a decrease in efficiency. Symptoms of this issue can include weakness, fainting or shortness of breath. In some people this condition may cause heart failure, shock, or chest pain. Atrial Fibrillation can occur with no other symptoms of heart disease present. Generally though there is an underlying problem of heart disease, high blood pressure, alcohol abuse, or coronary artery disease.

Ventrical Tachycardia (also known as VT or V-Tach) is very similar to atrial fibrillation in that it involves a heart rate that is much too fast. The difference between the two is that V-Tach is caused by the ventricles contracting more quickly than the atria. V-tach can lead to ventrical fibrillation or sudden death.

Both of these are shock able arrhythmias that can be treated by an external defibrillator or an internal one. A defibrillator, much like Medtronic’s recently under-fire version, is designed to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm when it starts getting a little too excited. The shock is supposed to work in the same way as a slap to the face in many movies when someone starts getting really excited and is freaking out.

If you or someone you know has been fitted with a Medtronic defibrillator featuring Sprint Fidelis leads, there is a chance of serious consequences. If your leads have broken causing injury, there may be legal options available to you. Contact a Medtronic lawyer at Williams Kherkher at 800-761-3187 to discuss all available legal options and to schedule an initial consolation.