Erlanger Heart and Lung Institute first in the country to implant new defibrillator

Photo Caption: (left to right): Blake Waller, Abbott representative; Dr. Harish Manyam, Chief of Cardiology at Erlanger Health System; Darren Bielejeski, Abbott Representative

The Erlanger Heart and Lung Institute announces Dr. Harish Manyam has successfully performed the first procedure in the country to implant a unique dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The same day, he was also the first in the country to implant a single chamber ICD. This latest advancement features compatibility with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Bluetooth communication for a better connection between patients and their doctors.
 
The Erlanger cardiology team is now offering these ICDs and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) devices for patients with abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. The high voltage devices offer a smartphone app and Bluetooth communication for improved remote monitoring and streamlined communications to help doctors tailor therapy to a patient's unique clinical needs. 
 
“This new innovative device, especially in the time of a pandemic, allows patients to have health care remotely and without being in the hospital,” Dr. Manyam, Chief of Cardiology at Erlanger Health System explained. “It continues to improve access to patients, the ability to live their life without worrying about a home monitor as the device can transmit via their phone. We continue to bring the newest and most innovative techniques to the region and are excited about the opportunity to improve health care in this region.”
 
The new system pairs with an intuitive smartphone application designed to help streamline communication between doctors and their patients. The app provides access to data, device performance, and transmission history, which helps patients take an active role in their healthcare. Through the app, physicians can continuously monitor their patients remotely, allowing for identification of asymptomatic episodes as well as patient-triggered transmissions, which can lead to earlier intervention.
 
The CDC estimates that as many as 6.1 million people in the United States battle cardiac arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms. ICDs are often recommended to help reduce the risks of life-threatening arrhythmias. For patients with heart failure or in situations when the heart's chambers beat out of sync, CRT-Ds can be used to restore the heart's natural pattern of beating.
 
For more information about treatments offered at Erlanger Heart and Lung Institute or to make an appointment, visit Erlanger.org/heart.