Revolutionizing the Treatment of Complex Arrhythmias

	Advanced arrhythmia treatment often eliminates the need for lifelong drug therapy.

Over 4 million people in the United States experience abnormal heart rhythms known as cardiac arrhythmias. While there are a number of treatments for these conditions, only one – catheter ablation – is both curative and minimally invasive. Deaconess Hospital is the first in the region to introduce breakthrough technology that makes this treatment safer and more effective.

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Conventional Catheter Ablation –Ablation is a technique that destroys very small, carefully selected areas of the heart identified as causing tachycardia (an abnormally fast heartbeat). When these areas of the heart are destroyed with radiofrequency, the heart can beat normally again. The key to successful ablation treatment is precise identification of problem areas. Conventional catheter ablation, which uses 2D fluoroscopy and intracardiac electrograms, is limited in its ability to precisely identify the problem area and the relative location of the treatment catheter within the heart. Prolonged procedures can also involve marked x-ray exposure.

Advanced Catheter Ablation at Deaconess – Deaconess offers a sophisticated mapping system to generate 3D, color-coded maps of the electrical impulses that control the heart. This data is superimposed on maps that show the anatomy of the individual patient’s heart. These precise maps allow physicians to accurately identify the problem area. The system, which works much like a global positioning satellite system, also allows physicians to navigate the treatment catheter to the problem area.

Advantages of New Procedure - The new CARTO XP navigation system offers physicians and patients significant benefits. It improves:

Catheter Location Accuracy – The navigation system allows physicians to identify the location of the catheter tip within 1 mm of its true location. Its unique location memory also allows precise re-navigation to areas of interest.
Site-targeting Efficiency – The easy-to-read maps clearly display electrical impulses and the 3D  anatomy of the patient's heart. They clearly illustrate complex spatial relationships allowing the physician to make a quick diagnosis and treat the precise area of the heart causing problems.
Treatment Safety – Physicians can tag critical structures to prevent AV block during ablation. They can also tag ablation sites to avoid duplicate radiofrequency applications to the same area of the heart. The temperature-sensing catheter adds another safety measure. Finally, the system reduces unnecessary radiation exposure and shortens procedure time.

First in Region to Offer New Treatments -  Deaconess was the first in the region to use this revolutionary 3D electroanatomic mapping system for catheter ablation procedures. We used it to successfully treat a patient with atrial flutter in November 2003. After using a pacemaker and two medications for 18 years, the patient was able to stop all treatment. “This was the first case in the Tri-State area where a 3D electroanatomic mapping was used to treat abnormal heart rhythm, ” said Dr. Chandra Kumbar, cardiologist with The Heart Group. In February 2005, Deaconess was first in the area to use this technology for atrial fibrillation ablation.

	Advanced arrhythmia treatment often eliminates the need for lifelong drug therapy.