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New Heart Mapping Technology to Treat Arrhythmia Patients
Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin are the first in southeastern Wisconsin to treat complex cardiac arrhythmia patients with a new heart mapping technology called CartoSound™ Image Integration.
The new technology, which integrates real time echocardiography with a 3-D mapping system, allows physicians to treat and potentially cure previously untreatable arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Moving a catheter within the heart, physicians collect information about the heart’s electrical system and can then more easily perform an ablation, burning away the tissue causing the arrhythmia.
“The CartoSound map allows us to very precisely deliver ablation at the source of the problem,” said Marcie Berger, MD, a Medical College of Wisconsin cardiac electrophysiologist. “By giving us an accurate picture of the catheter’s location, it also helps us minimize adverse events or complications during the procedure.” Dr. Berger treats patients at the Froedtert & The Medical College Heart & Vascular Center and at the Froedtert & The Medical College Specialty Clinics at St. Joseph’s Hospital in West Bend. “The accuracy of the map also helps us maximize our success rates with ablation,” she said. “The technology is most helpful in guiding complex ablations, like those performed to treat atrial fibrillation.”
Additional benefits include reduced procedure times, enhanced safety and more accurate heart imaging studies.
Source: Froedtert Today Date: September 2009 |
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