Muskegon First in West Michigan to Implant New, Innovative Type of Defibrillator
January 24, 2024
By: Brian M. Breen
Categories: Cardiovascular Health
Trinity Health Muskegon made history as the first hospital in West Michigan to implant the latest cardiac device developed by Medtronic – the Aurora EV-ICD.
The Aurora EV-ICD device is the newest technology in implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), designed to provide additional protection to patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The device has a unique feature that allows for remote monitoring of the heart's activity, enabling doctors to detect and treat problems before they become life-threatening. This is different than previous defibrillators used.
Also, one of the unique features of this procedure – versus other implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) is the device is implanted below the left armpit and the defibrillation lead is placed under the breastbone using a minimally invasive approach. Placing the leads outside the heart and veins is designed to help avoid long-term complications.
The First Patient
The first patient to receive the Aurora EV-ICD at Trinity Health Muskegon was Anita, a 47-year-old woman who had received the defibrillator due to a history of fatal heart rhythm. She is a survivor of sudden cardiac arrest. Anita’s interventional cardiologist, D. Dirk Bonnema, MD, recommended the Aurora EV-ICD device to her as a preventative measure against future cardiac arrests.
“I’m extremely proud of our cardio team in Muskegon. It was a team effort to perform this procedure successfully,” said Dr. Bonnema. “We are delighted to offer our Lakeshore patients the newest technology and options for heart health.”
The single-lead implant defibrillator was developed by Medtronic, with U.S. operations based in Minneapolis, Minn.
It was a complete team effort by the Muskegon Cardiology group
Prognosis
The surgery to implant the device was a complete success and Anita was discharged from the hospital the next day. She was given a remote monitoring device to transmit data about her heart's activity to the hospital, where Dr. Bonnema can review it.
Anita was not at all apprehensive about being monitored remotely and understands it’s a great way to keep track of her heart health in real-time and get immediate medical attention if needed.
Trinity Health Muskegon's adoption of the Aurora EV-ICD device is a significant leap forward in cardiac care for West Michigan. The device's remote monitoring capabilities are a game-changer in preventing and treating sudden cardiac arrest, and Trinity Health Muskegon is proud to be at the forefront of this life-saving technology.
Nearly 500,00 U.S. citizens die each year from cardiac arrest. This means more than 1,000 people experience sudden cardiac arrest every day.
Trinity Health Muskegon is a member of the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan.
