South Shore Hospital Offers Unique Heart Procedure to Patients

For Immediate Release: December 13, 2017

Contact: Kristen L. Perfetuo

(781)-624-4041

kperfetuo@southshorehealth.org

Keeping the Pace in Heart Innovation: South Shore Hospital Offers Innovative Heart Procedure to Patients Who Need Pacemakers

South Weymouth, MA – Keeping pace in heart innovation, South Shore Hospital, part of South Shore Health System, is now offering a cutting-edge procedure known as His-Bundle Pacing (HBP) to patients who need pacemakers.

The procedure provides more options for South Shore patients who require constant pacing and may be at increased risk for heart failure.

Elizabeth Bradley, age 75, of Hingham was the first of more than 30 patients who recently underwent the procedure at South Shore Hospital. In the few short months after receiving her His-Bundle pacemaker, her atrial fibrillation has significantly subsided and she feels more energetic than ever.

“I feel great!” said Bradley. “It’s comforting to know this procedure isn’t taxing my heart like other pacemakers.”

“We are excited to offer this alternate method that creates a more natural heart beat for patients,” said Alexei Shvilkin, MD, Cardiac Electrophysiologist at South Shore Hospital and one of just a handful of doctors nationwide and in Massachusetts performing the procedure. “His-Bundle Pacing may be another solution to help reduce the risk of pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy.”

While traditional pacemakers correct the slow heart beat, in some patients the devices put so much strain on the heart they can trigger heart failure symptoms. Traditional pacing in the right ventricle can cause dyssynchrony, or a difference in the timing of contractions between the right and left ventricles. As a result- when the ventricles are not in sync - the pumping function of the heart may deteriorate over time.

According to Dr. Shvilkin, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, HBP is a better long-term option than a traditional pacemaker because it paces the heart near a structure called the His bundle, part of the natural electrical wiring of the heart - activating the right and left ventricle simultaneously and eliminating the risk of pacing-induced heart failure.

“There have been considerable advances in pacemaker technology,” said Dr. Shvilkin, “His-Bundle Pacing is one more advance in cardiac care that could offer promising outcomes for our heart patients.”

To learn more about advanced cardiac care close to home, visit our website or please call (781) 624-8272.