Southend Hospital patients benefit from new treatment which could help prevent heart failure
It uses a technique known as conduction system pacing
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust says patients are among the first in Essex to benefit from a new treatment that could improve heart function, reduce time in hospital and help prevent heart failure.
In a first for Southend Hospital, the Cardiology team has successfully implanted a new type of lead - a thin wire that connects a pacemaker or defibrillator to the heart and helps to maintain normal heart rhythms.
It uses a technique known as conduction system pacing, which works with the heart's natural electrical system to help it beat more normally.
The trust says unlike the traditional treatment, there’s no longer a need for an additional lead to be implanted on the left side of the heart, which is a more complicated surgical procedure that can result in a longer stay in hospital.
Sajjad Mazhar, Consultant Cardiologist at Southend Hospital, said:
"Our goal is always to provide the best possible care for our patients. This technology allows us to combine the proven benefits of defibrillator therapy with a pacing approach that works more closely with the heart's natural electrical system. We expect this to provide better long-term outcomes for heart failure patients."
The trust says the procedure is 'being offered to carefully selected patients', and it is estimated that around 50 patients each year at Southend Hospital could benefit from it.
Vivien Choppen, aged 74 and from Eastwood, was one of the first patients to receive the new technology. She was diagnosed with a condition that weakens the heart muscle, called non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy.
This was made worse by atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that can cause the heart to beat too quickly. This can lead to symptoms such as breathlessness and, in some cases, heart failure.
As a result, Vivien now has the protection of a defibrillator to guard against life-threatening heart rhythms while also enabling more effective pacing therapy and medication management to improve her heart function.
Patient Vivien said:
“I am healing well and experiencing much less heart fluttering. Knowing that my new implantable cardioverter defibrillator* and lead are there to keep me safe gives me real peace of mind, and I feel reassured that I am protected for the future.”
Mark Passey, Principal Cardiac Physiologist at the hospital, said:
“We’ve been using conduction system pacing in our pacemaker patients for around a year and have seen the benefits it can offer. Being able to provide the same approach to patients who need defibrillators is an exciting step forward, helping us to support the heart’s natural function while delivering life-saving treatment.”