On April 22, 2024, electrophysiologist John A. Andriulli, DO, FACC, and cardiac surgeon Joseph A. Kuchler, MD, both member providers of Cooper and Inspira Cardiac Care (CICC), implanted the first FDA-approved Medtronic Aurora EV-ICD™ in the state of New Jersey. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) continuously detects and stops abnormal, rapid heartbeats, also called arrhythmias. It delivers electric shocks or rapid electrical pacing impulses, when needed, to restore a regular heart rhythm. This new type of ICD has a lead that is implanted under the sternum, tunneled to the left axillary region, and can provide pacing therapy for patients who need an ICD but may have other clinical features that make them less ideal candidates for a traditional transvenous ICD.
On April 17, electrophysiologist and member provider of CICC Matthew L. Ortman, MD, led the Cooper team in launching the Biosense Webster CARTO V8.0 ELEVATE. Cooper was the first hospital in the state to introduce the newest generation of mapping and ablation technology for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
With enhanced signal analysis, CARTO V8.0 ELEVATE gives electrophysiologists access to three-dimensional, real-time, color-coded views into the heart’s electrical activity, allowing diagnosis and treatment with increasing precision, therefore reducing the risk of damage to healthy tissue. Patients have shorter surgery times, meaning less time under anesthesia and lower risk of complications.
Congratulations to the Cooper electrophysiology team for bringing new technologies to the region and enhancing patient safety and treatments.
Dr. Andriulli (center) is shown with the team who implanted the Aurora Medtronic EV-ICD™, a first in New Jersey.
Dr. Ortman, who led the first Carto V8 ELEVATE procedure, is joined by Alexander Smith, MD, Cooper cardiac fellow, and Biosense Webster team members Lina Sieczkowska and Eric Morgenstern.