Implanting our first cases of an extra-vascular ICD

Dr Greg Mellor, Consultant Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, talks us through implanting our first cases of a new defibrillator that will protect against sudden cardiac arrest.
Two patients, both at increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest, recently received some of the first implants outside of clinical trials in Europe of an extra-vascular ICD (EV-ICD).
An ICD is a small device about half the size of a mobile phone which has wires leading to the heart. It is traditional implanted under the skin, near the armpit or below the collarbone, to control the rhythm of the heart.
The key feature of the Aurora EV-ICD, from Medtronic, is the position of the wires behind the sternum, which makes it more effective and safer for patients who have fast heart rhythms.
It marks the first major development in ICD technology in over 10 years.