India's first 'Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator' implanted at Delhi hospital

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: In a significant medical breakthrough, doctors at the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, implanted India’s first Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator (S-ICD) on a 48-year-old heart patient from Bihar, giving him a new lease of life.

The S-ICD system is approved for patients who are at a risk of sudden cardiac death due to life threatening ventricular arrhythmias and those who do not require a pacemaker.

The device offers certain benefits over conventional ICD in selected patients. It provides protection for patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, leaving the heart and blood vessels untouched.

Nearly 80% of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is due to ventricular arrhythmias and preventable by timely resuscitation.

The patient had suffered damage to his heart from a severe heart attack in October and his heart was pumping at a low efficiency of only 25-30 percent.

He had undergone angiography and angioplasty with three stents after the heart attack and was breathless on occasions.

In view of his poor heart function and the risk of sudden death, the decision to implant the subcutaneous ICD was taken by doctors.

“This first case of S-ICD in India will be a strong hope for several potential ICD patients who could be at risk of sudden death, including those with poor veins and those at high risk for major infection associated with a transvenous lead. It is only a matter of time and as this technology becomes more pervasive and affordable to offer patients yet another choice for an enhanced recovery,” Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman Fortis Escorts Heart Institute said.

He said sudden cardiac death is a major public health problem in India and accounts for about 10 percent of all deaths in India.

The S-ICD is manufactured by US-based Boston Scientific and the device is USA FDA approved.

The S-ICD is only two years old and has been launched in India about two months ago. About 12,000 subcutaneous implants have been done globally since the launch of the device.

(With ANI inputs)