West Hills Hospital & Medical Center, a full-service acute care facility, now offers the world’s smallest pacemaker for patients with bradycardia, the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS). West Hills Hospital’s first procedure using the Micra TPS was completed on July 17, 2018, by Benjamin Cohen, MD, making the facility one of the first in the San Fernando Valley to implement this new technology.
Bradycardia is a condition characterized by an abnormally slow or irregular heart rhythm, usually fewer than 60 beats per minute. At this rate, the heart is unable to pump oxygen-rich blood to the body during normal activity or exercise, causing fatigue, dizziness, fainting spells or shortness of breath. Pacemakers are the most common way to treat bradycardia, helping restore the heart’s normal rhythm by sending electrical impulses to the heart to increase the heart rate.
At one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker, about the size of a large vitamin, the Micra TPS provides patients with advanced pacing technology. Unlike traditional pacemakers, the Micra TPS does not require cardiac wires (leads) or a surgical pocket under the skin to deliver a pacing therapy. The device 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. It is also designed to automatically adjust pacing therapy based on a patient’s activity levels.
“We are tremendously excited to offer our patients this revolutionary technology,” said Cohen. “At West Hills Hospital, we are dedicated to providing the highest-quality care — and staying at the forefront of new technologies, like the Micra TPS, is an essential part of fulfilling that commitment. We look forward to continuing to change lives with this technology and other advancements yet to come.”
For more information about West Hills Hospital and its services, please visit West Hills Hospital.
About West Hills Hospital & Medical Center
West Hills Hospital & Medical Center, a full-service acute care facility, has served the West San Fernando Valley for more than 50 years. With 450 expert physicians and a staff of more than 900 that brings outstanding service to every bedside, the hospital offers a full complement of advanced technology, compassion and responsive care for the improvement of human life. West Hills Hospital was the first Accredited Chest Pain Center in Los Angeles County and also provides specialized care in the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Outpatient Services, Cardiac Catheterization Labs and The Grossman Burn Center. For more information on quality care close to home, visit West Hills Hospital.