New Device Provides ‘Insurance Policy’ for Those at Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

A 68-year-old patient of Dr. Sunil Shroff had a very sick heart, pumping only a fraction of the blood it needed to keep him alive. The condition meant he was at risk for life-threatening heart rhythms and sudden cardiac death. 

But now, thanks to Dr. Shroff, an electrophysiologist, and Dr. Allison Beckett, a cardiothoracic surgeon, both on the medical staff at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox – and a revolutionary device – the patient has an “insurance policy” to help make sure his weak heart doesn’t result in sudden death from heart arrhythmia. 

“The patient actually wanted to wait for the new device,” said Dr. Shroff. “He was excited to be the first patient to have the device implanted at Silver Cross this past December.” 

Benefits of EV-ICD

Unlike the existing implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), the New Medtronic Aurora extravascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (EV-ICD) does not have leads implanted into the veins and the heart. 

“The leads are implanted under the breastbone, and the generator/battery under the left armpit, cradling around the heart,” Dr. Shroff said. 

“Not going directly into the veins resolves many issues, including the opportunity for infections that would necessitate going back in and removing the leads with a laser.” 

The EV-ICD has the added benefit of not only providing a shock when the heart is out of rhythm, Dr. Shroff said, but acting as a pacemaker to keep the heart beating regularly. 

“The patient will not necessarily feel any differently, but using the EV-ICD is a preventive, an insurance policy, to make sure they do not suffer sudden death. In most cases, they can resume their normal lives without this worry.” 

The new device is more complicated to implant, Dr. Shroff said, and requires a cardiothoracic surgeon to assist with placing the lead properly under the breastbone. He’s thankful to be assisted by someone of Dr. Beckett’s talent and experience. 

For her part, Dr. Beckett said she is honored to be assisting with such a revolutionary procedure. 

“We’re delighted we can assist our electrophysiologist colleagues in implanting this excellent new device,” she said. “It performs much better than the ICDs and avoids infections caused by implanting the leads into the veins.” 

Patients treated with the new EV-ICD are more comfortable after their procedure and have greater arm mobility than with typical ICDs. 

Dr. Shroff said the 68-year-old patient is doing well and very happy to know he has that insurance policy helping to keep him alive. Dr. Shroff’s office team also is able to remotely monitor the device 24 hours a day, adjusting if necessary. 

While the procedure was a first at Silver Cross this past December, it has been used at other Chicago-area hospitals since it debuted the previous year. 

“Some 400,000 people nationwide suffer sudden cardiac death each year,” he said. “The EV-ICD is an exciting new preventive for patients with cardiomyopathy.” 

For more information, visit www.silvercross.org/heart