Posted on 08/06/2010

 Scottsdale
Healthcare is only Arizona hospital, 1 of 35 worldwide in clinical study

SCOTTSDALE,
Ariz. -- Scottsdale Healthcare is the only
Arizona hospital system testing a new under-the-skin device that uses an
electrical shock to interrupt possibly fatal heart rhythms, restoring a normal
heartbeat for patients at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

The
first Arizona patient received the device Thursday at Scottsdale Healthcare
Shea Medical Center. Scottsdale Healthcare is the only Phoenix area hospital
and one of only 35 in the world participating in the study.

The
subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) uses life-saving
electrical impulses under the skin near the heart, instead of placing
electrical wires through veins to access the heart used in conventional
methods.

Clinical
trials to study the S-ICD's safety and effectiveness are underway at Scottsdale
Healthcare under the guidance of Thomas Mattioni, MD, medical director of
electrophysiology.

"The
S-ICD is unique because it is implanted entirely under the skin and does not
need wire placement inside the heart, which should simplify surgery and
eliminate the need for x-rays, reducing patient exposure to radiation,"
says Dr. Mattioni.

"This
could be a big step forward in improving the safety of a well-established and
highly effective therapy," he says Dr. Mattioni.

Potential
patients will be screened to determine eligibility for the device study at
Scottsdale Healthcare. Those with implanted conventional ICDs are not eligible,
unless removal of that ICD is required for other reasons, explains Dr.
Mattioni.

"Qualified
patients are those whose cardiac diagnosis indicates the need for an ICD, among
other criteria," he says. "Our goal is to significantly improve on
current ICD therapy and reduce complications associated with transvenous leads,
to simplify device implantation, programming and follow up, and ultimately save
more lives."

The
S-ICD detected 100% of induced and spontaneous episodes of irregular heart
rhythms in early studies  published in the New England Journal of
Medicine
. For
information on eligibility to enroll in the S-ICD study at Scottsdale
Healthcare, call 480-246-3805.

SOURCE: PR Newswire, US Newswire

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