Saint Alphonsus Surgeons Complete 50th Case Using Pioneering Technology

Device Helps Doctors Treat Atrial Fibrillation While Performing Other Heart Procedures

Saint Alphonsus Medical Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery Dr. Robert Saeid Farivar and Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Ben Taylor recently completed their 50^th open cardiac case using the EnCompass Clamp.

They were the first surgeons in Idaho to use the device while performing cardiac surgery, either valve replacement or coronary artery bypass. The EnCompass Clamp securely and safely allows surgeons to perform an additional operation to treat Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) without adding significant time and risk to a patient's procedure.

“35 to 40 percent of our cardiac patients also suffer from Atrial Fibrillation,” said Dr. Farivar. “Studies have shown that the possibility of experiencing AFib following a cardiac procedure is as high as 50%. By using the EnCompass Clamp, we can reduce the risk of a high-risk patient experiencing post-operative Atrial Fibrillation.”

Atrial Fibrillation is a chronic, progressive, and debilitating disease that affects 37 million people worldwide. If left untreated, it can cause permanent, physical changes to the heart, leading to many other health problems. It is the most common type of heart arrhythmia and occurs when the heart’s upper and lower chambers are not coordinated, causing the heart to beat too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly.

“By using the EnCompass clamp to treat AFib at the time of another procedure, we improve patient safety and reduce the time a patient’s chest cavity is open and the heart is exposed. As a surgeon, I appreciate the advances in technology that allow me to be more efficient and provide better outcomes for my patients,” said Dr. Taylor.

The use of the new surgical technology helps Saint Alphonsus surgeons reduce a patient’s risk of stroke, as AFib has been shown to increase the stroke risk in cardiac patients.