A groundbreaking heart procedure was performed at OSF Healthcare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, where a two-year-old patient with Brugada syndrome became the youngest recipient of Medtronic’s extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD).
Life-Saving Action and Advanced Technology
The child suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at home and was resuscitated thanks to swift CPR performed by his parents and emergency responders. Upon arrival at the hospital, his care team, led by Dr. Harma Turbendian, Dr. Sunita Ferns, and Dr. Mark Plunkett, determined that Medtronic’s Aurora EV-ICD offered the best chance for a long, healthy life.
This device, traditionally implanted in adults or older children, marked a first in pediatric cardiology:
- Minimally invasive implantation with small incisions.
- Effective for defibrillation, anti-tachycardia pacing, and back-up pacing therapies.
- Designed to grow with the patient, reducing the need for larger, invasive procedures.
Expert Perspectives
“This was the first time in the world that this device was trialed on someone this small,” said Dr. Ferns, director of pediatric and adult congenital electrophysiology.
Dr. Plunkett added, “Children previously required much larger surgeries with less effective devices. This new technology is a game changer for pediatric patients.”
A Milestone in Cardiac Care
Medtronic’s Aurora EV-ICD, FDA-approved in 2023, is the first U.S. ICD placed outside the vascular space, offering safer and more effective treatment.
This procedure represents a critical advance for pediatric heart care, earning praise from the American Hospital Association as a landmark achievement.
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