Dr. Bernice Tsang has always placed innovation at the forefront of her career as a cardiologist. Prioritizing the advancement of safe clinical practices helps lead to better patient outcomes, improved recovery times and can improve the overall patient experience.
With a practice focused on clinical electrophysiology, pacing, defibrillator therapy and cardiac resynchronization therapy, Dr. Tsang is always looking for innovative procedures to implement. So, when she heard of a new leadless pacemaker, she was eager to bring it to Southlake.
“The quality and type of research we do at Southlake has allowed us to be a leader in electrophysiology in Ontario, Canada and even the world,” said Dr. Tsang, Electrophysiologist at Southlake. “It’s important for Southlake to be on the forefront of doing these procedures, because we want to bring the most advanced technology to our patients.”
When Dr. Tsang was approached to be one of the first in Canada to use the latest pacemaker technology, she jumped at the opportunity.
Patients who experience slower-than-normal or irregular heart rhythms may receive a pacemaker to help restore a normal heart rate. A pacemaker uses pulses of electricity to trigger the heart to beat. Typically, a pacemaker consists of a pulse generator, connected to wires (leads) that sense and pace the heart’s rhythm. The leads are threaded into veins and implanted into the heart to detect the heart rhythm.
Patients are required to undergo surgery to implant a traditional pacemaker, however, implanting leadless pacemakers is much less invasive.
Leadless pacemakers are implanted directly into the heart’s right lower and upper chambers via a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure that eliminates the need for cardiac leads and a device pocket in the patient’s chest. Leadless pacemakers often result in less complications post-surgery, as well as down the line as devices need replacing. Due to the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, patients can get back to daily activities sooner, with a shorter recovery time and less post-operative restrictions.
Dr. Tsang has performed more than 35 implantations of the new leadless pacemaker at Southlake and has seen great success and response from her patients.
“Already we are seeing patients come back with excellent results which encourages me to continue to push the envelope forward and provides me with new skills that will be the change of the future.”
In addition to implementing this new technology at Southlake, Dr. Tsang has been a leader in educating and training cardiologists on the new device and the benefits it can have for patients. Dr. Tsang has travelled to the United States and Japan to help launch this new device and train fellow electrophysiologists on the incredible benefits of the leadless pacemaker.
“Dr. Tsang’s commitment to innovation is a true testament to the commitment of our physicians to go above and beyond,” Liz Lalingo, Director, Regional Cardiac Care Program. “Southlake is fortunate to have cardiologists who are constantly expanding their skills by bringing new innovative technologies that improve patient care and patients’ quality of life.
Southlake is grateful for physicians like Dr. Tsang who are passionate about delivering advanced cardiac care to the communities we serve.
To read more about the study and research around the Dual-Chamber Leadless Pacemaker in the New England Journal of Medicine, click here.
