NEWS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bobbie Boyd, Director of Public Relations
& Community Outreach
Advanced Cardiac Specialists
Cell Phone: (602) 570-7069 E-mail:
bobbie.boyd@acs-im.com
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND HEARTBEATS
Skipped Beats ID’d on 3-D Map of Heart
Phoenix
(February 11, 2005) - Over ten million people worldwide experience arrhythmias
or irregular heartbeats. Over two
million Americans have atrial fibrillation, a disorder that may result in blood
clots causing a stroke. Approximately
15% of strokes are associated with atrial fibrillation.
Three-dimensional
mapping of the heart, now available at Advanced Cardiac Specialists’ cardiac
catheterization labs at Phoenix St. Luke’s Medical Center and Mesa General
Hospital, allow an electrophysiologist to zero in on the problem areas thus
addressing the critical issue of the electrophysiologist’s ability to precisely
identify the source(s) or trigger of the irregular heartbeats. In a heartbeat s/he sees a “map” of the
simultaneous electrical activity throughout the entire chamber of the
heart. This virtually eliminates the
time consuming process of moving diagnostic catheters around to stimulate
various areas of the heart to create a map or model.
The
three-dimensional mapping EnSiteâ System from Endocardial Solutions, Inc., simulates
having over 3,000 conventional catheter electrodes in the heart chamber at once
versus only several catheters with the current technology. The map can simultaneously display up to 64
electrodes on eight catheters, more than any other three-dimensional mapping
system. In addition the model of the
heart can be “turned” and viewed from virtually any angle. This makes it possible to see areas of the
heart, such as the tricuspid valve, not visualized with older technology.
The
map is also color coded to differentiate between real time healthy trigger
cells and early or delayed damaged trigger cells. This is especially helpful with detecting the complex and
multiple sources of arrhythmias. Real
time is helpful with diagnosing sporadic arrhythmias.
Three
pairs of electrode patches are placed on the patient’s chest. These patches emit electrical signals that
identify the catheters’ locations within the heart. The EnSite Arrayä balloon catheter, the only catheter of its kind, is a
diagnostic tool that receives electrical signals throughout the heart
chamber. This real time data, collected
during a single heartbeat on these more than 3,000 points of electrical
activity, is transmitted to a computer that converts the information into a
three-dimensional graphic.
The heart contracts or beats somewhere between 60
and 80 times per minute when a person is at rest. The heart has a natural
pacemaker that utilizes the heart’s electrical system to create a rhythm for
the heart to beat. We have all
experienced a change in the rhythm of our heartbeat (arrhythmia) when we take a
breath or we have “skipped a beat” as a normal reaction to extreme emotion or
exercise. These situations are usually
no cause for alarm. Minor arrhythmias
may also be caused by excessive alcohol, smoking, caffeine, stress, diet pills,
or cough or cold medicines. Problems
with the electrical system’s nerve impulses or hormones in the blood may cause
an arrhythmia of potential concern when it occurs more regularly or causes
symptoms. Arrhythmias may be atrial
(upper heart chamber) or ventricular (lower heart chamber) in origin. They include “tachycardia” when the heart
beats too quickly or “bradycardia” when the heart rate is slow or
“fibrillation” when the rate is rapid and the rhythm chaotic.
Treatment
options include medications or implantable devices both designed to control but
not cure the arrhythmia. Alternatively,
the irregular impulses can be corrected through cardiac catheterization and
ablation, an outpatient procedure whereby the irregularity is identified and
eliminated through a burst of radiofrequency energy administered through the
tip of a catheter, or small wire, inserted through an incision to the
groin. Current technology uses
information gathered from EKG’s and a live black and white two-dimensional
X-ray screen. The EKG patterns are
compared to determine which pattern(s) are associated with the damaged heart
cell(s) triggering the irregular heartbeat(s).
The electrophysiologist is looking for abnormal sites, structure and/or
pathways that promote arrhythmias. The
new 3-D mapping technology builds upon the tried and true foundation of this
process. It provides enhanced precision
and ultimately delivers a more permanent cure in a shorter time. In addition, the new technology is
especially applicable to atrial fibrillation ablation.
Robert M. Siegel, M.D. is Medical Director and Chief of Cardiovascular Services at Advanced Cardiac Specialists a statewide network of Cardiology and Internal Medicine physicians based in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to extensive training in San Diego, Dr. Garg, Electrophysiologist with Advanced Cardiac Specialists, has performed over twelve procedures [as of February 2005] using the 3-D mapping technology at ACS cardiac catheterization laboratories.