in an important way Thanks to medical advances, the HUS Heart and Lung Center in Finland has begun implanting the country’s first extravascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (EV-ICD). This revolutionary next-generation device represents a major advance in the treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
Unlike traditional transvenous ICDs or subcutaneous ICDs, EV-ICDs are implanted entirely outside the heart and blood vessels.
Its leads are placed under the sternum, close to the heart, reducing many of the late effects associated with older ICD models, such as venous occlusion and blood-borne infections. Compared to subcutaneous ICDs, EV-ICDs are more versatile, smaller in size, and have a longer lifespan, with an expected useful life of more than 10 years. There will also be regular monitoring through a pacemaker outpatient clinic and an automated remote system.
This innovative device autonomously treats life-threatening arrhythmias by delivering overdrive pacing or electrical shock during ventricular fibrillation. Additionally, it provides backup pacing to maintain an adequate heart rate even if your heart rate suddenly stops.
Currently, HUS is the only hospital in Finland implanting these next-generation ICDs and receives patients from all over Finland. To date, only a few hundred EV-ICD devices have been implanted worldwide, and Finland’s joining this elite group is an important milestone.
The patient selection process for EV-ICD implantation in HUS is meticulous. Approximately 100 patients receive her ICD at this center each year. However, the new EV-ICD is not suitable for all patients and will be implanted as needed. “Conventional devices are used for patients who require frequent pacing, while cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers are used for patients with irregular left ventricular contractions,” he explains. Jarkko Karvonen, Deputy Chief Physician of Cardiology, HUS Heart and Lung Center. She added: “If the patient is likely to require open heart surgery later, choose a device with a transvenous lead.”
Dr. Karvonen is enthusiastic about the various ICD options currently available. “It’s great that our patients can be the first to benefit from such advanced technology,” he said, highlighting HUS’s commitment to providing cutting-edge medical solutions.
The introduction of the EV-ICD at HUS represents a major advance in cardiac treatment, providing Finnish patients with the latest medical technology and reaffirming the country’s position at the forefront of innovative cardiac treatments .
HT