Stroke sufferers should be given an implant that monitors heart activity to reduce risk of further illness, NHS chiefs say
- Health chiefs are recommending tiny heart activity monitors for stroke victims
- The monitor, implanted under the skin, is about a third of the size of AAA battery
- The device transmits data back to the patient’s doctor via a mobile network
NHS chiefs are recommending the routine use of implantable monitors that track heart activity in patients who have suffered a stroke.
The devices could prevent hundreds of strokes in those who have a high risk of suffering more, according to draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
The monitors – which cost £1,800 – can detect atrial fibrillation, a condition which causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.
FIgures seen by Nice show atrial fibrillation was detected in five times as many people using the Reveal monitor for six months compared with those without the device
Undiagnosed atrial fibrillation is thought to be responsible for a ‘significant portion’ of around 30,000 strokes each year in the UK, Nice said.
The Reveal LINQ monitor, developed by Medtronic, is around a third of the size of a AAA battery and is implanted under the skin in the chest. It transmits data back to the patient’s doctor via a mobile network.
FIgures seen by Nice show atrial fibrillation was detected in five times as many people using the Reveal monitor for six months compared with those without the device.
It said: ‘This device can provide a level of reassurance to those who live in fear of having another stroke and…is likely to be a cost-effective use of NHS resources.’
NHS chiefs are recommending the routine use of implantable monitors that track heart activity in patients who have suffered a stroke [File photo]
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