Severance Hospital Hosts Training Program for Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Procedure

Juyeong Jeong, Head of the Arrhythmia Procedure Room at Severance Hospital, is conducting an observational training on the 'S-ICD' procedure for Thai medical staff attending the educational program.
[Photo by Severance Hospital]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Arrhythmia Center at Severance Hospital announced on the 14th that it held a training program on the implantation procedure of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) for arrhythmia specialists both domestically and internationally. The program was attended by arrhythmia specialists from Thailand as well as medical staff from Korea.

Started in 2019 and now in its fifth session this year, the training program is organized by Professors Jeong Bo-young, Kim Tae-hoon, Yoo Hee-tae, and Kim Dae-hoon from the Cardiology Department at Severance Hospital. With each session, the target audience has gradually expanded beyond Korea to include arrhythmia specialists from other Asian countries.

Since performing the first S-ICD implantation in October 2016, the Arrhythmia Center at Severance Hospital has conducted the highest number of S-ICD surgeries in Korea. It is the only institution in the Asia-Pacific region operating an 'S-ICD Procedure Observation and Hands-on Training Program,' offering a program where participants can experience both clinical practice and procedural training simultaneously.

The S-ICD is a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator that delivers an electrical shock to restore normal heart rhythm when abnormal ventricular arrhythmias are detected. Unlike traditional devices, its electrode lead is implanted subcutaneously near the sternum rather than through the patient's veins, reducing the risk of vascular infection and complications such as vascular stenosis.

Jeong Bo-young, Director of the Arrhythmia Procedure Room, stated, "Treatment using the S-ICD has the advantage of being less burdensome for both patients and medical staff compared to conventional methods, and it has fewer long-term side effects." She added, "Through the S-ICD procedure training program, we hope that not only domestic but also overseas patients will have the opportunity to receive treatment in their home countries."