Another breakthrough for Sarawak Heart Centre

KUCHING: Sarawak marked another advancement in medical care with the Sarawak Heart Centre successfully implanting its first Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (EV ICD).

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian commended the breakthrough by Dr Koh Keng Tat and the electrophysiology (EP) team, saying it marks a new chapter in the treatment of dangerous heart arrhythmias.

“EV ICD is a type of implantable defibrillator that treats dangerous heart arrhythmias by delivering electrical shocks when necessary.

“Unlike traditional ICDs, which use transvenous leads placed inside the heart, the EV ICD has leads placed outside the blood vessels, specifically in the area near the heart (under the breastbone or sternum),” he said in a Facebook post.

Dr Sim noted that the device reduces some of the risks associated with the traditional transvenous approach, such as infections or complications arising from the placement of leads within blood vessels.

The EV ICD system detects and treats both ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), delivering electrical shocks when necessary to restore normal heart rhythms, potentially saving patients’ lives during critical episodes.

The medical team at Sarawak Heart Centre prepares for the successful implantation of the first Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (EV ICD).