Implantable cardiac monitor warns of impending heart attack.
Northside Hospital Heart Institute is excited to announce it is the first in Georgia to implant AngelMed's Guardian® implantable cardiac monitor.
Guardian is the first implantable cardiac detection monitor and patient-warning system for heart attacks, including silent heart attacks. It is indicated for use in patients who have had prior acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events and who remain at high risk for recurrent ACS events.
Northside electrophysiologist and cardiologist Dr. Alok Gambhir successfully performed the outpatient procedure at Northside Hospital Cherokee on March 1.
“The Guardian device is the first-ever surveillance device for early detection of a heart attack,” said Dr. Gambhir. “This novel technology will provide peace of mind for our patients who have coronary artery disease and has the potential to save lives. We are proud to be the first hospital in Georgia to provide this game-changing technology.”
Guardian, which has been approved by the FDA, is the only product of its kind to be made commercially available. The latest version is enhanced with ease-of-use adaptations and an updated, long-life battery that was designed to increase the life of the implanted device.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers a myocardial infarction or heart attack. Other crucial risk factors in post-heart attack patients include age, medical history, comorbidities and the severity of their first acute coronary syndrome event. Despite proactive ongoing efforts from the medical community over the last decade to better educate the public on the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, the time from symptom onset to arrival at a hospital remains unchanged.
Guardian has reduced the time for patients to get to the hospital — up to 3-6 times faster. The device is available throughout the Northside Hospital system.
Learn more about heart care at Northside Hospital Heart Institute.
