The signs that something was wrong were subtle. All Catherine, now 62, noticed was that she was more tired than usual. Luckily, she has a device at home that monitors her ICD. It receives signals from the ICD about how often it is sending electric impulses to her heart. Those results are automatically sent to her cardiologist's office.
That October, when the cardiologist's office received the results, they called the Jackson resident right away. Although she hadn't felt it, her ICD had delivered an electric shock to her heart to keep it beating regularly. She was told to go straight to the nearest emergency department (ED).
Initial testing at the ED showed that Catherine needed more advanced treatment. She was transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, which houses the most advanced technology and experienced team of specialists for heart rhythm conditions. The cardiovascular experts there discovered that the special wire, called a lead, that delivers energy from her ICD to her heart was beginning to fray.
"Patients are living longer, and the leads in their hearts can't last forever," explains Riple Hansalia, M.D., an electrophysiologist with the Heart Rhythm Center at Jersey Shore. "A damaged lead in the heart can be dangerous. Fortunately, advances in medicine allow us to use a laser to break down the scar tissue around damaged leads and replace them, without having to replace the entire defibrillator."
This procedure, called laser-assisted lead extraction, requires specialized training and skill. In fact, Jersey Shore is the only hospital in the region that can perform it.
Catherine was scheduled for her lead extraction, and she was thrilled to have Dr. Hansalia on her side. "He is the most compassionate person," she says. "He takes his time to explain everything."
The procedure went smoothly. Dr. Hansalia and his team replaced the leads of Catherine's ICD, and there were no complications.
"A couple months later, my restrictions were lifted for activities like cooking," says Catherine, "and now I'm looking forward to golfing again in Myrtle Beach."
About the Doctor
Riple J. Hansalia, M.D.
Board certified in Cardiovascular Diseases and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Neptune | 732-776-8500
