Randy Hederer is looking forward to another season of deer hunting. But, just a few months earlier, he wasn’t sure he’d be around to experience it. In August, the Poplar Bluff man experienced sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
SCA claims the lives of 350,000 Americans each year, but Hederer survived because he was prescribed a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD).
Before his sudden cardiac arrest, the 62-year-old had suffered a heart attack and underwent surgery to repair his heart’s function. His cardiologist, Dr. H.K Reddy, of Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital, Cardiovascular Consultants, explained that the pumping function of Hederer’s heart, known as “ejection fraction,” was severely weakened to 20 percent. A normal “ejection fraction” is 55-70 percent. This put Hederer as risk of dying from sudden cardiac arrest.
Wanting to ensure Hederer was protected outside of the hospital, Reddy prescribed a wearable defibrillator and instructed he wear it under his clothes day and night, only taking it off for a short shower or bath. Wearable defibrillators are prescribed for a wide range of patients, including those who recently suffered a heart attack or have a new diagnosis of heart failure. Determined to achieve a full recovery, Hederer accepted his WCD and wore it faithfully.
Just 10 days later after receiving his WCD, Hederer was watching TV while visiting his sister near Houston, Texas when his heart suddenly spiked into a rapid life-threatening rhythm, causing him to pass out. Within one minute, his wearable defibrillator detected the dangerous heart rhythm and delivered a treatment shock that restored his heart’s normal rhythm and saved Hederer’s life. He regained consciousness immediately after the treatment and awoke thinking he had merely dozed off for a nap. His sister had already called 911 and Hederer was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance. Hederer continued wearing his WCD in the hospital, where he received four additional lifesaving treatments from it. He later received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for long-term protection.
Hederer is recovering now, counting the days until hunting season. “I don’t care much if I get anything, it’s just about being out in the woods… maybe see a coyote and watch the squirrels.”
Hederer is grateful for Reddy and his wearable defibrillator for saving his life.
“That wearable defibrillator is an awesome piece of equipment,” Hederer said. “I wouldn’t be here today without it.”
Unlike an ICD, a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is worn outside the body rather than implanted in the chest. It requires no bystander intervention.
The WCD continuously monitors the patient’s heart and, if a life-threatening heart rhythm is detected, the device delivers a treatment shock to restore normal heart rhythm. The device alerts the patient prior to delivering a treatment shock, and thus allows a conscious patient to delay treatment.