Heart Research

Scripps has a long history of finding the most effective treatment options for heart disease. Our cardiology firsts include:

• One of the first stents was co-invented by a Scripps cardiologist
• First in San Diego to utilize catheter ablation to cure arrhythmias
• First in San Diego to use approved cryoablation (cold) technology to cure atrial fibrillation
• First in the United States to implant a dual-chamber defibrillator
• First noninvasive peripheral vascular lab in the U.S.
• First in the nation to use minimally invasive tools to remove plaque from coronary arteries
• First in Southern California to surgically correct Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition that causes extremely rapid heart rates
• First in Southern California to perform open heart surgery to cure arrhythmias
• First in California to utilize Carrot EP lab integrated monitor system
• One of the first in California to utilize Hansen Sensei X robotic catheter system for cardiac ablation procedures
• Second in the U.S. to implant a biventricular (triple-chamber) defibrillator

• Scripps was the first health system to offer genetic testing to stent patients to determine if they are able to properly metabolize the anti-clotting drug Plavix. Genetic testing allows the physician to further personalize care before an intervention.
• Scripps is part of the PARTNER (Placement of AoRtic traNscathetER valves) trial, which uses catheters for valve surgery for high risk or non-operable patients.
• The talented physician-scientists at Scripps have a long history of clinical research that has changed the delivery of cardiovascular care and have transformed medicine in unprecedented ways. Scripps physicians are conducting research in numerous breakthrough technologies.

View a list of current clinical trials for heart disease and other conditions.