Dr Edward Petzer

I have been a Consultant Cardiologist since 2005. I trained as a device and electrophysiologist, but have dedicated my career to complex device implantation and management. I am a high volume operator and the only operator that is stand alone implanter in emerging SUBQ technology, which is a novel way to implant defibrillators that wrap around the chest, rather than be implanted directly into the heart. Heart failure management is the cornerstone of my practice as many of my patients require device therapy.

I am a Consultant Cardiologist who specialises in faints, falls and palpitations. I have extensive experience in the management of POTS and vasovagal syncope. I set up a loop implant facility at Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital in 2015 with bespoke consultant lead follow. Surgically I am a device specialist, classed as a high volume complex operator carrying out in excess of 700 procedures per year including LINQ implant, pacemaker, internal cardiac defibrillator, cardiac resynchronising devices and I am the only standalone SUBQ ICD implanter in Kent performing first in late 2015, with my device background managing many heart failure patients. Finally I have a special interest in inherited cardiac death (Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome and HCM to mention a few).

I am very experienced in autonomic dysfunction (POTS vasovagal syncope) and for many years I worked closely with Nick Gall in Kings Hospital who is probably the most experienced in the UK in this field. I have a vast experience in inherited cardiac disease and management of families who have experienced sudden cardiac death (Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome, HCM etc).

I carry out 100 LINQ implants with 24/7 consultant lead monitoring each year. The LINQ is a device used to diagnose fast or slow heartbeat, very useful to identify mechanism in people with unexplained falls as well as diagnosis of AF in patients with unexplained stroke. I implant in excess of 350 pacemakers for patients with slow heart beats. They are simple but probably the most effective surgical therapy developed. I implant approximately 150 internal cardiac defibrillators each year for patient’s with heart failure with ejection fraction less than 35%, who are at significant risk of sudden arrhythmogenic death; these devices effectively prevent this. Each year I also implant 150 cardiac resynchronising devices (CRT-D, CRT-P), for patients with heart failure that are really short of breath. This implant can give them a new lease of life, probably the most satisfying procedure I do.

I currently do all Kings' difficult cases and am probably the most experienced operator in Kent. I attended a training course in Holland held by the most experienced implanter in the world, for the SUBQ defibrillator. The biggest problem with conventional defibrillators is lead failures which result in extraction and have significant morbidity and some mortality. The SUBQ devices go under the skin, under the armpit and the lead tracks under the skin, wrapping around the heart so there is nothing in the heart and there are no recorded lead failures. I firmly believe this emerging technology is the ICD of the future. I currently implant about 10 of these each year. Soon we will be able to implant lead-less pacemakers that will talk to the defibrillator allowing us to upgrade the device to act as pacemaker if required. I also carry out approximately 20 Ajmaline stress tests each year.

I am an advanced life support instructor and advanced life support clinical director at Darent Valley Hospital. I am also chair of the resuscitation council at Darent Valley Hospital.