UPMC Celebrates 1,000th Lifesaving AFib Procedure in Central Pennsylvania

December 12, 2024

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Ninety-three-year-old Harrisburg resident Neil Bernstein, recently became the 1,000th patient to undergo the left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure at UPMC Harrisburg. Hemal Gada, M.D., interventional cardiologist and president, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, UPMC in Central Pa., and his team performed the 1,000th LAAO procedure, which has been available at UPMC in Central Pa. since 2017 to eligible patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AFib) who are at a high risk of stroke.

Strokes linked to AFib often result from blood clots that develop in the heart and can travel to the brain. To lower the risk of stroke, the LAAO procedure is performed to close off the left atrial appendage in the heart, preventing blood clots from forming. The device is implanted by accessing the heart through a vein in the leg using a non-surgical approach, and it changes the internal shape of the heart, making it resistant to clot formation.

“Achieving this milestone in such a short period of time is an incredible accomplishment for our team,” said Dr. Gada. “This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in healthcare while positively changing the lives of 1,000 patients and their families. We’re thrilled to continue providing lifesaving care to our patients in central Pennsylvania. Our dedication to improving patient outcomes remains at the heart of everything we do.”

The LAOO procedure takes one to two hours, is painless, and most patients are discharged from the hospital the following day with immediate return to full function.

Mr. Bernstein was discharged the day after his procedure and is now at home with his loved ones. He enjoys reading and has resumed his twice-weekly breakfast and dinner outings with friends. His wife, 86-year-old Renee Singer, also underwent the same procedure at UPMC Harrisburg by Dr. Gada in September of this year.

“My experience at UPMC Harrisburg with Dr. Gada was exceptional,” said Ms. Singer. “We were confident that my husband was in good hands when it was his turn to undergo the procedure.”

Pioneers in cardiovascular health since 1956, doctors at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in central Pennsylvania were the first in the region to perform open-heart surgery and the first to perform coronary artery balloon angioplasty. Other firsts include the implantation of a drug-eluting coronary stent, percutaneous (minimally invasive) aortic valve procedures (TAVR), and the implantation of an FDA-approved percutaneous mitral valve repair device. UPMC’s vascular surgeons are experts at providing exceptional care through both vascular and endovascular techniques.

For more information or to schedule an appointment at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, visit UPMC.com/CentralPaHeart.