Am I a candidate for the LifeVest System?
Who do I ask for more information?
Does my doctor need to prescribe a LifeVest?
What if my doctor hasn't heard of the LifeVest?
How much does it cost? Is the LifeVest covered under my insurance?
What are the possible side effects?
What would happen if the LifeVest shocked me while I was still conscious?
Is it hard to learn how to use?
Is it comfortable to wear?
How much would my lifestyle change by wearing a LifeVest?
How noticeable is it?
Do I need to take special care of the LifeVest?
Will it irritate my skin?
Am I a candidate for the LifeVest System?
If you are considered at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest, you may be a candidate for the LifeVest.
See Who Can Benefit from the LifeVest to see some specific examples.
If you currently have an ICD or have a physical or mental deficit that would impair your interaction with the LifeVest, you are probably not a good candidate to use a LifeVest.
To find out if the LifeVest is an option for you, talk to your doctor and have him or her call 1-800-543-3267.
Who do I ask for more information?
For more information on the LifeVest, call 1-800-543-3267.
Does my doctor need to prescribe a LifeVest?
Yes, your physician must prescribe the LifeVest and participate in your care while you are wearing the LifeVest.
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What if my doctor hasn't heard of the LifeVest?
If your physician is not familiar with the LifeVest, ask them to call 1-800-543-3267 for more information or refer them to our Web site at www.zoll.lifecor.com.
How much does it cost? Is the LifeVest covered under my insurance?
Most patients wear the LifeVest temporarily or for a defined period of time and rent the device. This price varies from country to country. If you live in the United States, the LifeVest is covered under most insurance plans as DME (Durable Medical Equipment). Please call 1-800-543-3267 for more information.
What are the possible side effects?
Since the LifeVest is worn outside the body, side effects are minimal. The most common physical problem noted during clinical trials was a minor temporary rash caused by heat trapped under the electrodes.
Rarely, the LifeVest may shock someone who is not in a serious arrhythmia. This has happened only six times in well over 1000 months of use. Although momentarily painful, no permanent problem resulted. See What would happen if the LifeVest shocked me while I was still conscious?
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What would happen if the LifeVest shocked me while I was still conscious?
If you receive a shock while conscious, it may be painful. The patient can always prevent a shock while conscious by holding the response buttons. Receiving a shock while the heart is beating normally may cause the heart to beat abnormally.
Is it hard to learn how to use?
Most people find this easy to do. Similar to contact lenses, however, it may take a couple of days to get used to. But in a very short time most patients report that the LifeVest comfortably fits into their daily routine.
Patients must be able to:
Use their hands to thread the electrode belt into the garment that holds the vest on the chest;
See the prompts on the monitor screen and see the buttons on the control module;
Press and hold the buttons on the control module;
Hear the alarms.
Is it comfortable to wear?
The LifeVest has been designed for patient comfort.
The system uses dry skin contacting electrodes held in place by an elastic belt. A comfortable holster carries the monitor/defibrillator unit.
The third-generation LifeVest is the world's lightest external defibrillator at only 1.7 lbs.
The comfortable, lightweight design of the LifeVest makes it easy to wear continuously.
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How much would my lifestyle change by wearing a LifeVest?
The LifeVest was designed to allow patients to return to their normal activities.
Some people work, golf, or even perform moderate exercise with the LifeVest (see our Patient Stories). You'll have to remove the LifeVest when showering or bathing, but otherwise you should wear it all the time. Since you wear it under your clothes, most people won't even notice you have it on.
How noticeable is it?
The LifeVest is fit to your body and is worn under your regular clothes. Other than the monitor, which is worn in a holster around the waist, there is no evidence that you are wearing the device. Most people won't even notice you have it on.
Do I need to take special care of the LifeVest?
The LifeVest should be treated with the same care as other personal electronic devices. You should avoid dropping it and try to keep it from getting wet. Do not bathe or shower while wearing the device, or allow food or liquid to splash or drip onto the system. Also, before washing the garment, be sure to remove the electrode belt.
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Will it irritate my skin?
The most frequent side effect reported during clinical study was a temporary skin rash, occurring in 5.9% of people using the LifeVest. This appeared to be due to heat being trapped under the electrodes rather than any allergic or irritating properties of the device.
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