Genesis a Health Care Destination for Canadian Woman

Under-the-Breast Pacemaker Placement Attracts Patient

 

Recently, a physically fit woman from Canada noticed that she was easily fatigued during workouts. She was accustomed to rigorous workouts but was not feeling as well after them. She suspected asthma.

It wasn't asthma. What she was actually experiencing was a common symptom of an irregular heartbeat.  She needed a pacemaker implanted.

Genesis Heart Institute cardiologist Michael Giudici, M.D., is one of the few cardiac electrophysiologists in the country who implants pacemakers under the breast tissue.  The benefit is the same as it is with a pacemaker implanted on the upper chest, but with Dr. Giudici's approach, the actual device is not visible under the skin.

When the woman from Canada did research on the Web, she discovered Dr. Giudici, who has been implanting pacemakers under the breast since 2001 and has presented papers on the procedure for the medical community.

First-in-the-Nation at Genesis

Dr. Giudici pioneered the procedure to implant pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) under the breast in an effort to alleviate the complaints of women who had traditional device placement. The complaints ranged from irritation and discomfort from purse and bra straps to changes in body image and cosmetic issues with visible scars.

"I wanted to feel healthy and beautiful, but I also wanted to preserve my privacy,'' said his Canadian patient, who requested her name not be used. "It was important for my emotional and spiritual well-being and to not feel sick."

She added, "Everything went great. Dr. Giudici has an excellent bedside manner, and he makes you feel assured and confident."

Dr. Giudici recently implanted the device for the woman at Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street campus. She was hospitalized only overnight and has quickly transitioned back to her routine of a career and exercise.

"I feel terrific. I would recommend this to others who needed a pacemaker but wanted to maintain their privacy,'' the woman said.

Dr. Giudici understands. That is what he was hearing from female patients before he began implanting devices under the breast to repair irregular heartbeats.

"I think the reason more doctors aren't doing it is the old explanation ... 'because we've always done it this way,''' Dr. Giudici said.  "Patients usually will do whatever is suggested by their doctor and unless this approach is offered, the patient is probably going to get the traditional approach.

"For women, I've started suggesting this approach, and the results have been positive.''

He expects to receive similar requests from other women from outside the region who need a device to regulate their heartbeat.

"There are so many more young women who are getting devices than there were just a few years ago.  We have much better tools for diagnosis,'' he said.

"Women are going to be looking for this approach because they don't want the incision on their upper chest.  Doing it that way creates problems and pain with purses, straps of dresses and bras and mammograms and there is also the appearance factor.  Many women don't want the outline of the device visible.'' 

For information about implantable heart devices available at Genesis, call (563) 421-6709.