The Cape Town AF Centre offers the implantation of new ICD/CRT-D combination devices for specific patients in heart failure.
In May 2019 the Cape Town AF Centre was once again the pioneer in new technology. This time the CTAFC leads the way in the inplantation of a new generation ICD (implantable cardiac defibrillator) and CRT-D (Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device. Studies show that the use van Biotronik’s Acticor/Rivacor ICD and CRT-D can lead to a 60% mortality reduction in patients with heart failure.
These devices, known as Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), are increasingly being used worldwide and also in developing countries, predominately for the management of life-threatening cardiac rhythm disorders.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices help your heart beat more efficiently and monitor your condition so your doctor can provide the right treatment for you, while a ICD will prompt your heart to beat at a regular pace.
Heart failure is tough to live with and can be complex and time-consuming to treat and manage. It’s these real life challenges that Acticor 7 CRT-D systems are engineered to deal with. These new and smaller systems simplify treatment and therapy for up to 9 years[1], and when used with BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring technology, they have been clinically proven to help prolong life further[30].
The Cape Town AF Centre with its experience of using these devices and its leading role in teaching doctors about electrophysiology, implanted this device in a 77yr old patient with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (poor cardiac function due to coronary artery disease). He has had a successful ablation of his ventricular tachycardia with Dr. Gopal.
Unique features of this heart-support device are its greater longevity, reliability and ease of implantation; these are very important attributes in developing environments. The battery of the ICD device lasts for up to 15 years. The more sophisticated device which offers synchronisation of heart chamber pump action plus a ‘shock/defibrillation’ function has a battery which lasts for up to 9 years.
This ultra slim and bio shaped device (10mm) is smart and can provide information directly to the clinic or doctor’s surgery remotely. It can also be kept working while full or partial body scans are done for diagnosis of other diseases.
Dr. Gopal’s unit remains one of the leading centres for management of cardiac arrhythmias on the African continent and he feels that the addition of the new platform of devices is in keeping the centre’s motto that “with innovation, comes cure”.
Video below: Listen to Dr. Mauro Biffi,
University of Bologna, Italy, speak about his first clinical experiences with Acticor/Rivacor devices
Video below: Watch Prof. Pedro Brugada,
Free University of Brussels VUB, Belgium, share his first impressions of Acticor/Rivacor devices
Video below: More about the new device:
Read more:
https://www.biotronik.com/en-de/products/cardiac-resynchronization/acticor-hf-t-qp-hf-t