Dr. Kim Joo-yeon, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Incheon Sejong Hospital, Selected as Proctor for HeartMate3 Implantation Surgery

Incheon Sejong Hospital (Chairman Park Jin-sik) announced on February 8 (Wednesday) that Kim Joo-yeon, chief of cardiothoracic surgery, was selected as the proctor for the implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) called HeartMate3.

As the proctor, Dr. Kim will disseminate, provide instructions on, supervise, and manage the techniques associated with HeartMate3 insertion surgery. In order to be selected as a proctor, one must have extensive surgical experience and expertise. and Dr. Kim made the cut in recognition of her expertise in LVAD implantation surgery using HeartMate3, the latest equipment from Abbott.

LVAD implantation, an alternative treatment for patients with severe or end-stage heart failure, started being eligible for health insurance coverage in late 2018, thereby reducing the financial burden on patients. The procedure is available not only at Incheon Sejong Hospital but also at Bucheon Sejong Hospital. Incheon Sejong Hospital, in particular, has successfully performed the third largest number of LVAD procedures among domestic medical institutions as of 2022. HeartMate3, the latest LVAD from Abbott, was released in Korea in July 2021. It is a third-generation LVAD model that is smaller than its predecessors, and its operational stability helps enhance safety during the procedure. Dr. Kim said, “I’ll share the relevant techniques with many more medical professionals as a proctor, […] and I promise to do my best to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from compromised heart functions.”