Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center First in Texas to Use Micra® Transcatheter Pacing System Post FDA Approval

AUSTIN, Texas, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David's Medical Center recently became the first facility in Texas to use the Micra^® Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS) after receiving FDA approval. The Micra TPS is a new type of heart device that provides patients with the most advanced pacing technology at one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker. Micra is the only leadless pacemaker approved for use in the United States.

The procedure was performed by Robert Canby, M.D. and Amin Al-Ahmad, M.D., electrophysiologists at TCAI, to treat bradycardia—a condition characterized by a slow or irregular heart rhythm, usually fewer than 60 beats per minute, causing dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath and/or fainting spells.

"We are pleased to be among the first in Texas to use this new miniaturized pacing system, advancing the level of care we provide for our patients," Dr. Canby said. "Due to the unique design of the Micra TPS, most patients experience fewer medical complications and fewer post-implant activity restrictions, allowing them to return to their normal lives sooner."

Unlike traditional pacemakers, the Micra TPS—which is about the size of a large vitamin or capsule—does not require cardiac wires (leads) or a surgical "pocket" under the skin to deliver a pacing therapy, making it virtually invisible. Instead, the device is small enough to be delivered through a catheter and implanted directly into the heart with small prongs, providing a safe alternative to conventional pacemakers without the complications associated with leads. The Micra TPS is also designed to automatically adjust pacing therapy based on a patient's activity levels.

The Micra TPS is the first and only transcatheter pacing system to be approved for both 1.5 and 3 Tesla (T) full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, providing patients with access to the most advanced imaging diagnostic procedures available, if needed. Additionally, it incorporates a feature to enable retrieval of the device if needed (although the device is designed to be left in the body). For patients who need more than one heart device, the miniaturized Micra TPS can be permanently turned off so it can remain in the body when a new device is implanted without risk of an electrical interaction.

The Micra Transcatheter Pacing System was approved by the FDA for use in the United States in April 2016.

St. David's HealthCare, including the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center, continues to add innovative therapeutic procedures to the Austin region, including the implantation of the first MRI-capable defibrillator MultiPoint Pacing^™ technology to treat congestive heart failure.

Media Contacts:
Erin Ochoa or Kristin Marcum
Elizabeth Christian Public Relations
512.472.9599

SOURCE Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David's Medical Center

Related Links

http://www.tcainstitute.com