SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Biotech / Medical : Guidant (GDT)
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Mike who wrote (222)1/15/2003 7:24:29 AM
From: Ausdauer  Read Replies (1) of 235
 
Mike, I think the projections can be made based on existing patients...

...which satisfy device implantation criteria.

I am not sure the entire medical community is convinced that stable patients
w/ or w/o heart failure and coronary disease who have been followed in clinic for
a year or two or three or more suddenly wake up and need a defibrillator because there
is data to suggest they will do better. This is particularly true for patients
with coronary disease who have been completely revascularized surgically and have
recovered nicely. There are many, many patients with poor ejection fractions in this category
who live near normal lifestyles and are shocked when they get a phone call from the clinic
to come in and be seen for a defibrillator implantation.

Likewise there are a lot of older CHF patients who will never agree to a device
implantation to extend their life expectancy when they are 75 or 80 or 85 years old
and have battled CHF for several years. Think about the patient perspective of extending
one's life expectancy when one has already reached "old age" and when quality of life
may be perceived to adequate, let alone low to marginal.

I am not saying that device implantation will not increase significantly as a result of
recent data, but it is a hard sell in many cases--something the general public may not perceive.
I think the available data will greatly alter future practice, on the other hand.

Many physicians as well have mixed feeling about biventricular pacing, its cost,
implantation difficulties and complications, and the inability to predict improvement
for a given patient. These are significant obstacles.

Aus
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News