PRESS RELEASE
Patient received investigational implantable defibrillator system that uses a lead placed outside the heart and veins
PHOENIX, Ariz. (August 13, 2020) – HonorHealth Research Institute and HonorHealth, a leading Valley healthcare system serving 1.6 million people in the greater Phoenix area, is one of the first hospitals in the world to use a new, investigational medical technology within a clinical research protocol to treat dangerously fast heart rhythms. As part of the worldwide Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (EV ICD) Pivotal trial, Thomas Mattioni, MD, a clinical cardiac electrophysiology physician at HonorHealth, successfully implanted the novel EV ICD system in a patient who is at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
The investigational EV ICD system is designed to deliver defibrillation, a controlled electrical shock to restore normal heart rhythm, and pacing therapy from a device with a thin wire (called a lead) placed outside the heart and veins. In traditional defibrillator systems (ICD), the lead is threaded through the veins and into the heart.
“This new approach to delivering ICD therapy in a full-featured device, but without the risks associated with leads inside the veins and heart, is very appealing,” said Dr. Mattioni. “I am pleased to participate in this clinical study and offer this innovative investigational technology to patients.”
ICDs have been saving lives for more than 30 years by delivering a shock or painless pacing therapy to stop dangerously fast heart rhythms that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a sudden, abrupt loss of heart function. Most SCA episodes are caused by the rapid and/or chaotic activity of the heart known as ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). SCA kills more than 350,000 people each year in the U.S.
HonorHealth Research Institute is enrolling patients into the EV ICD pivotal study, a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, non-randomized, pre-market clinical study evaluating the new technology in up to 400 patients at up to 60 hospitals in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. For more information on eligibility criteria for this study go to clinicaltrials.gov or call 480-323-1046.
About HonorHealth
HonorHealth is a non-profit, local community healthcare system serving an area of 1.6 million people in the greater Phoenix area. The network encompasses five acute-care hospitals, an extensive medical group, outpatient surgery centers, a cancer care network, clinical research, medical education, a foundation and community services with approximately 12,300 employees, 3,700 affiliated physicians and 3,100 volunteers. HonorHealth was formed by a merger between Scottsdale Healthcare and John C. Lincoln Health Network. HonorHealth’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of those we serve. Learn more at HonorHealth.com
About HonorHealth Research Institute
HonorHealth Research Institute is helping shape the future of medicine. We're finding cures and improving treatments in areas like gene therapy, early drug/device development, early detection and prevention of disease. Through our clinical trials and applied research, we’ve given hope and improved the lives of patients from all 50 states and 28 different countries around the globe. Our advanced technologies and cutting-edge treatment options are introducing tomorrow’s cures, today. For more information on cardiovascular clinical trials email heartclinicaltrials@honorhealth.com or learn more at HonorHealth.com/research. Follow HonorHealth Research Institute on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @HRInstitute_AZ.