Marian Regional Medical Center recently added two new state-of-the-art devices to its heart program’s resources.
On Nov. 14, the hospital announced Marian’s Sue J. Sword Heart Center will now offer a new type of heart device—one they described as “the world’s smallest pacemaker,” for patients with slow or irregular heart rhythm, otherwise known as bradycardia.
The Micra Transcatheter Pacing System is one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker, according to medical center staff. According to the hospital the devices are each roughly the size of a large vitamin.
“Unlike traditional pacemakers, it does not require cardiac wires [leads] or a surgical ‘pocket’ under the skin to deliver a pacing therapy,” Sara Juan, the hospital’s communications manager, explained in a statement. “Instead, it is small enough to be delivered through a catheter and implanted directly into the heart with small tines, providing a safe alternative to conventional pacemakers without the complications associated with leads—all while being cosmetically invisible.”
Juan said the Micra is also designed to automatically adjust pacing therapy based on a patient’s activity levels.
Chief Operating Officer Mark Allen told the Sun in an email that the availability and delivery of advanced heart services was one of the medical center’s core missions.
“The management of cardiac disease is rapidly evolving with emerging technology in coronary intervention and structural heart care,” he said.
Allen said the addition of the pacemakers would lift the travel burden for many patients who otherwise would be stuck driving hundreds of miles for similar care.
“[They now] will receive the most advanced, high quality heart care available in a caring environment close to home,” he said. “Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. A robust Heart Center, with advanced state-of-the-art technology and capabilities, can help change the course of heart disease in our local and surrounding communities.”
In Marian’s Structural Heart Program, Dr. Joel Lardizabal recently implanted the first and only FDA-approved device designed to help reduce the risk of recurrent ischemic strokes in patients diagnosed with a patent foramen ovale—a small opening between the upper chambers of the heart, according to hospital officials.
The device was designed to close the ovale and lower the risk of stroke caused by dangerous clots passing between the heart chambers and up to the brain. Placement of the device is minimally invasive and performed while the patient is sedated but still conscious, according to the press release.
“Marian’s Sue J. Sword Heart Center is pleased to be able to offer these advanced medical technologies to Central Coast cardiac patients,” Marian President/CEO Kerin Mase said in a statement. “These advancements further enhance the cardiovascular technologies in our own community, mitigating the need to travel for cardiac care.”
Highlights:
• The Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce is offering an industry tour on Nov. 28 led by Red Dog Management, an agribusiness that grows organic and conventional strawberries. The tour will be a demonstration of the strawberry cycle, from ranch to cooling to packaging. Space is limited and registration is required by Nov. 26. To register, contact Alex Magana at alex@santamaria.com or call the chamber at (805) 925-2403.
Staff Writer Spencer Cole wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, mail, or email at spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 23-30, 2017.