Deborah First Hospital in Region to Debut Two New Defibrillators:
Devices Offer The Highest Energy to the Heart

Deborah Heart and Lung Center has announced that it is the first hospital in the region to implant the next generation of defibrillators – the Unify CRT-D and the Fortify ICD – both by St. Jude Medical and both received FDA approval.

The two new devices offer several important advantages to patients. Most importantly, they hold the highest amount of energy found in any defibrillator, with the ability to deliver 40 joules. For a patient who needs an electrical interface to correct their heart rhythm this is a major step forward. These devices also are designed to prevent any unnecessary defibrillation.

Additionally, the devices are narrower and smaller so that physicians can implant them using a smaller incision with subsequent less scarring for the patient. Other new features include the need for less set screws and lead connections to the device, improving patient comfort with less bulk for the device.

A CRT-D device resynchronizes the beating of the heart’s lower chambers, which often beat out of sync in heart failure patients. CRT therapy can improve the quality of life for the approximately 5 million Americans suffering with heart failure.

An ICD is an implantable device that treats potentially lethal, abnormally fast heart rhythms which can lead to sudden cardiac death. About 325,000 Americans die each year from this.

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