Sparrow is first in Michigan to treat heart patients with leading-edge defibrillator 

LANSING, MI – Sparrow recently became the first health system in Michigan to implant a new innovative life-saving defibrillator for cardiac patients.

Sparrow Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute Electrophysiologist Ali Sheikh, D.O., implanted the Aurora EV-ICD device at E.W. Sparrow Hospital. The procedure took about 90 minutes to complete.

The first-of-its-kind, single-lead implant was developed by Medtronic, a medical device company, and aims to treat patients at risk of life-threatening irregular heartbeats and sudden cardiac arrest. Unlike devices already on the market that deliver timely electrical shocks to restore normal heart rhythms, the groundbreaking defibrillator is placed beneath the breastbone, outside of the heart and veins. 

The 55-year-old patient who received the implant has risk factors that increase the chance of blood stream infections that can be catastrophic so the device was ideal for him.

“This new device reduces the risk of blood stream infections,” said Sheikh. “Additionally, it can deliver short-term pacing therapies to painlessly treat ventricular tachycardia (VT), an unusually fast and lethal heartbeat that starts in the lower part of your heart, and potentially avoid the need to shock our patients.”

Although medications can be prescribed to suppress VT, Sheikh said they don’t cure the problem, and an internal defibrillator can rescue patients if the arrhythmia happens again. Sheikh said the patient is now feeling better and is thankful for the care he received at Sparrow.

Sparrow TCI is the pre-eminent provider of heart and vascular care in Mid-Michigan. Our highly skilled cardiovascular team is dedicated to enhancing patient outcomes and improving the quality of life for those with heart conditions.

To learn more about life-saving treatments or Sparrow TCI, go to tciheart.com or Sparrow.org/heart-center.

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Sparrow is Mid-Michigan’s premier healthcare organization and includes hospitals in Lansing, Carson City, Charlotte, Ionia, and St. Johns, as well as Sparrow Specialty Hospital, Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group, and the Michigan Athletic Club. Sparrow is affiliated with Michigan Medicine through the Sparrow Children’s Center and with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 Caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and Patient experience. As a not-for-profit healthcare system, charitable support from individuals, corporations, and organizations to the Sparrow Foundation provides vital funding for the programs we deliver to strengthen our regions health and wellness. For more information, visit sparrow.org.