A Life Changing Outcome

Abby McGillivray, a 20-year-old who underwent a rare procedure at the Brigham, is just one of many patients to benefit from the Brigham’s care. Abby suffered from frequent fainting spells for much of her young life, beginning in high school and growing increasingly common, even daily, in college. This debilitating condition kept Abby from fully living her life—as driving a car, spending time with friends, traveling, and being in crowded areas all became too risky. 

With the frequency and severity of her fainting, Abby knew she needed to find answers. This led her to the Brigham and cardiac electrophysiologist Sunil Kapur, MD, who diagnosed Abby with neurocardiogenic vasovagal syncope, a dangerous miscommunication between the brain and the heart that was causing her heart to routinely stop. To address the problem, Kapur suggested an experimental but safe procedure known as cardiac neuroablation. Performed only a handful of times before in the U.S. and Europe, the surgery successfully alleviated Abby’s fainting spells. After many years living with a disruptive and debilitating condition, she gained a second chance. Today, Abby is fulfilling her dream of returning to school to study nursing.  

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