Heart Monitoring for Irregular Heartbeat: “I Can Now Do Sports Again Without Any Worries.”

A BIOTRONIK employee shares his experience as a patient with an implantable cardiac monitor.

Irregular heartbeat, or cardiac arrhythmia is a common health problem. In Germany alone, around 400,000 people are admitted to a hospital every year due to cardiac arrhythmia.  In addition to heart stumbling and palpitations, cardiac arrhythmia can manifest itself in restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, and nausea. To get to the bottom of the problem, it is sometimes necessary to use an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM). This device monitors the heart rhythm over a long period of time by continuously checking for arrhythmias, regularly recording ECGs, and automatically sending them to the attending physician via Home Monitoring. 

On the occasion of World Heart Day, we want to talk about cardiac arrhythmias and tell the story of Alexander Binder and his implanted cardiac monitor BIOMONITOR IV.

Dr. Alexander Binder, an experienced laser technician and long-time employee of BIOTRONIK, has spent his life developing medical technology. Married and a father of two almost grown-up children, he spends his free time restoring old bicycles and cars and photographing with analog cameras. Despite his active lifestyle, one day he noticed unusual symptoms in his heart. We spoke to him. 

Hi Alex, when did you first realize that something was wrong with your heart?

Over the last few years, I have occasionally felt a strange buzzing in my chest, similar to a nervous twitch. It happened again and again. Last year, my heart started racing after I quickly climbed a small hill on my bike. I also fainted once without any physical effort. 

What was the diagnostic process like?

After my racing heart experience, an exercise MRI was carried out, which showed no abnormalities. So, my heart valves seemed to be fine. That reassured me at first.  

After my brief fainting episode, I underwent a 24-hour ECG. It was purely by chance that I had the first combination then of the strange chest buzzing and a subsequent short attack of dizziness. This event was also detected by the portable device, after which it was decided to refer me to the hospital. After another uneventful resting ECG, I spoke to the doctors, and we came to the conclusion that an implantable cardiac monitor could help to get to the bottom of the underlying causes.

How did the insertion of the BIOMONITOR IV go and how quickly were you fit again?

I took the bus to the hospital in the morning and then lay in a waiting room for just under an hour. After a short preliminary talk with the doctor, I was taken into the operating room, my chest was covered with an iodine solution and a blue cloth was placed over my head. During the whole procedure, which took less than five minutes, I was conscious and able to chat with the doctors. The insertion and placement of the monitor and removal of the insertion aid took less than 10 seconds. “The eagle has landed” the doctor announced cheerfully, and I was also pleased and surprised at how easy it was.  

After the procedure, I went back to the waiting room on my own, where I was given the CardioMessenger – the device transmitting my data via Home Monitoring. I had to wait another hour until my wife came to pick me up. We then went for a walk and had some cake.

How are you feeling today with the BIOMONITOR IV in your chest?

Immediately after the procedure, the skin was still a little tense, but this has now completely disappeared. Sometimes I forget for hours, even days, that I have the device in my chest. Of course, I can feel it when I press on the chest.  

The implant itself does not affect my everyday life. I can go about my usual activities without any problems. When I was at the hospital follow-up, I was asked by the doctor about some elevated results. Fortunately, I knew that I was cycling in the mountains at the time, which explained my pulse rate of over 180 beats per minute.  

Overall, I feel safer with the BIOMONITOR IV.  

Photo: Martin Rundfeldt

My life has changed in that I simply dare to do more things, such as going jogging. Because I know that if I feel dizzy again, my heart monitor can be used to check whether the cause is to be found in the heart rhythm.

Dr. Alexander Binder

What are the next steps in your diagnostics and therapy?

If no relevant events are found, I should only come back to the hospital for a check-up in a year. If any unusual heart activity is recorded in the meantime, the doctor will contact me by e-mail. 

Looking ahead to next year: what are your goals, especially in terms of your health?

I will continue to make sure that I get enough exercise every day, and that I cycle more miles than I drive - and I want to go kayaking again, maybe even to work. 

I haven't regretted my decision to have the implantable heart monitor fitted. Before, the feeling was strange. Now there is a data set that has been evaluated and identified as harmless over the last few months. That gives me a feeling of security. If a cardiac arrhythmia is identified, appropriate treatment can be initiated. However, if I consider the results in perhaps three years and the doctors say: “There was nothing wrong. Keep doing what you're doing,” then I'll be happy. Then wearing the BIOMONITOR IV will have given me complete peace of mind. 

 

Read about heart monitoring and the implantable cardiac monitor BIOMONITOR IV.

Alex and the BIOMONITOR IV: the approximate position of the implantable cardiac monitor in Alex's chest

 

Photo Credits: 
Pictures taken by Martin Rundfeldt

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