Scottsdale, Ariz. (March 29, 2024) – HonorHealth, a leading health system in the greater Phoenix area, is the first and only healthcare provider in Arizona approved to treat cardiac arrhythmia patients with lifesaving defibrillation, anti-tachycardia pacing and back-up pacing therapy following FDA approval in October 2023.
This leading-edge technology improves on traditional, transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) used to treat abnormal heart rhythms. It avoids certain risks because its lead is placed outside the heart and veins. It's also designed to reduce the risk of long-term complications such as narrowing, blockage or compression of a vein and blood infections.
“We are proud to be the first in the state to offer this advanced technology to our patients,” said Thomas Mattioni, M.D., cardiac electrophysiologist at HonorHealth. “This new device allows for more advanced therapy delivery in addition to being smaller than traditional ICDs, which should increase patient comfort and acceptance. The entire system is implanted within the body but outside of the heart which provides distinct advantages over conventional systems.”
Participants in the clinical trial that led to FDA approval were enrolled at 46 sites in 17 countries, including at the HonorHealth Research Institute, where Mattioni acted as the principal investigator and completed the first clinical trial implant in Arizona. Sushmitha Patibandla, M.D., of the HonorHealth Cardiac Arrhythmia Group, performed the first commercial implant in the state on March 19.