Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 27-05-2019

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

A German company has launched the smallest smart Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in South Africa.

Developed by Biotronik, the defibrillator controls and manages life-threatening cardiac rhythm disorders.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, about 225 people die every day in South Africa from heart disease, while 10 people suffer a stroke.

The 10mm heart-support device is designed for greater longevity, reliability and ease of implantation and provides information directly to the clinic or doctor’s surgery remotely.

Speaking to Radio Islam, renowned Cardiologist Dr Razeen Gopal says the device can be used for a number of symptoms associated with the heart.

“The majority of cardiac symptoms that the device is actually relevant for would be symptoms of heart failure or otherwise the symptoms that the patient may be suffering from a malignant tachyarrhythmia, a malignant heart rhythym disturbance.”

Dr Gopal, successfully perform the implantation of this device into a 77-year-old patient with ischaemic cardiomyopathy at the Cape Town Atrial Fibrillation Centre.

Listen to the interview with Dr. Razeen Gopal