As the first in the Carolinas, Trident Medical Center is home to a new medical procedure. Electrophysiologist Darren Sidney, MD is the physician behind the next generation implant. Created to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with Atrial Fibrillation, Sidney successfully completed the surgery on a 71-year-old male.
Atrial Fibrillation, or AFiB for short, is a common heart disease that alters the heart’s ability to pump blood. Over 2.7 million people suffer from the quivering heartbeat that AFiB ensues. The issue behind an irregular heart pattern is that it can frequent blood clots, which cut off the air supply to the brain and in turn, lead to a stroke.
The implemented device LAAC is roughly the size of a quarter. Sidney operates once in order to implant the device. It remains completely unseen from the outside of the body. Once implanted, the device effectively reduces blood clots, eliminating the fear of a stroke occurring.
This new device is a huge step for those suffering from AFiB. With a success rate of 99% of patents no longer needing blood thinners a year post-surgery, it’s easy to say that this is a big win.