Physicians at Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center Among First in U.S. to Perform Lead Extraction Procedure Using GlideLight™ Laser Sheath

On April 27, 2012, the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David’s Medical Center became the second facility in the United States to use the new advanced GlideLight™ Laser Sheath for the removal of cardiac leads — transvenous pacemaker electrodes frequently used in patients with pacemakers or other implanted Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) devices. The GlideLight Laser Sheath delivers more precise control, allowing physicians to use less force for safe lead extraction. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on April 25. “Over time, cardiac leads can fracture or become less effective due to biological changes at the site where they are implanted in the heart tissue, requiring them to be removed for the safety of the patient,” Robert Canby, MD, electrophysiologist at TCAI, said. “In the hands of a skilled physician, laser-assisted lead extraction using the GlideLight Laser Sheath allows for increased safety and accuracy.” The GlideLight Laser Sheath — manufactured by Spectranetics® Corporation — allows physicians to cut away the tissue so the lead can be removed with minimal trauma. The new GlideLight Laser Sheath requires 55 percent less force than Spectranetics current laser sheath. “If too much force is used during lead extractions, complications can occur,” Dr. Canby said. “Reducing the amount of force used by physicians greatly improves the likelihood that the procedure will be successful and safe.” Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center (TCAI) is one of the world’s preeminent centers dedicated to the latest treatment advances for correcting abnormal heart rhythms such as Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib). The center is led by Executive Medical Director Andrea Natale, MD, a world-renowned expert in the field. Natale is at the forefront of advancing treatment for A Fib, leading numerous clinical trials and participating in the development of new technologies and procedures. For more information, please visit TCAInstitute.com. St. David’s Medical Center St. David’s Medical Center is part of St. David’s HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized in January 2012 as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. Founded in 1924, St. David’s Medical Center is a full-service medical center offering comprehensive medical care at three locations — St. David’s Medical Center, located at 919 East 32nd Street in Austin; Heart Hospital of Austin, located at 3801 North Lamar Blvd.; and St. David’s Georgetown Hospital, located in Georgetown at 2000 Scenic Drive. The three campuses offer a full range of medical specialties, as well as many other innovative health care services. St. David’s Medical Center in central Austin includes a 350-bed acute care hospital and a freestanding, 64-bed rehabilitation hospital providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. St. David’s Medical Center provides a complete range of women’s services, including its acclaimed maternity unit, maternal fetal medicine, a high-risk maternal and neonatal transport team, the region’s largest and most sophisticated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The Breast Center, and a fertility center; is home to the internationally acclaimed Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute; NeuroTexas Institute (including the TIA Center for Stroke Prevention and designation as a Primary Stroke Center); complex surgical services; a comprehensive Bariatric Surgery Center; and a 24-hour emergency department. Thomson Reuters named St. David’s Medical Center to the list of 100 Top Hospitals in 2010, 2011 and 2012. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.