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Akron General adopts new robotic technology to treat rhythm disorders
By Cheryl Powell
Beacon Journal medical writer
Published on Sunday, Jul 05, 2009
For some cardiac patients, a little heart burn could cure big problems.
Akron General Medical Center recently started offering a new procedure that uses magnet-guided catheters to burn tiny sections of the heart for people with uncontrolled heart rhythm disorders.
Akron General is using a robotic system called the Stereotaxis Niobe magnetic navigation system for the catheter ablation procedure.
Patients benefit because the new technique is more accurate, said Dr. Jennifer Cummings, Akron General's medical director for electrophysiology, a subspecialty that focuses on heart rhythm disorders.
The approach also is potentially shorter and safer because the robot-controlled catheters are softer and carry less risk of damaging the heart muscle.
In addition, she said, the magnet-guided technique and improved imaging means doctors can use less X-rays to perform the procedure.
''It's a lot safer for the patient,'' Cummings said. ''It provides us a little more accurate technology.''
And for the doctors, she said, the robot allows them to shed their 40-pound lead aprons and get off their
feet for the four- to six-hour procedure.
''There are a lot of electrophysiologists who end up with bad backs,'' she said.
The ablation procedure is used to treat arrhythmias, or rapid, uncoordinated heartbeats.
Millions ailing
As many as 6 million to 7 million people nationwide suffer from a form of arrhythmia known as atrial fibrillation, which causes chaotic electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart.
Left untreated, Cummings said, the condition can lead to tiredness, fatigue, strokes and heart failure.
''It's one of the Number One causes of stroke,'' she said.
During a recent procedure, Dr. Robert Schweikert, chief of cardiology at Akron General, inserted diagnostic catheters into a 63-year-old Akron woman's internal jugular vein in the neck and veins in the groin. The catheters were carefully snaked into her heart.
Another metal-tipped ablation catheter was inserted in the groin and guided into the heart.
Schweikert then went from the operating room to an adjacent control room to direct the rest of the procedure.
Using detailed images and information displayed on a 46-inch high-definition computer screen, Schweikert remotely moved the metal-tipped ablation catheter by moving magnets in the procedure room via computer.
When the ablation catheter was in place, it delivered short radio frequency bursts into the heart muscle to block the irregular triggering impulses.
The monitoring catheter inserted in her heart showed the desired effect: The chaotic signals in that targeted area of the heart were eliminated.
The doctor continued to other areas of the heart to target more trigger points with the radio frequency energy.
Patients usually are able to go home the next day.
According to the American Heart Association, radio frequency ablation is a widely used treatment with a success rate of more than 90 percent and a low risk of complications.
Success story
Henry Schulz, 61, of New Franklin, recently underwent a cardiac catheter ablation procedure at Akron General with the new robotic technology.
Before the procedure, Schulz was experiencing rapid, irregular heartbeats at least once or twice a week.
When his heart raced, he would feel dizzy and sick to his stomach until an implanted defibrillator fired and delivered a jolt to get the rhythm back to normal.
''You get real dizzy, sick,'' he said. ''And then all of the sudden, it reaches that rate, 150 beats per minute, and then that defibrillator in your chest fires. It's like a bull kicking you right in your chest. It's not a fun experience.''
His cardiologist, Dr. Ihsan Ul Haque of Barberton, referred him to Schweikert.
Since undergoing the procedure last month, Schulz said, he hasn't experienced any episodes of arrhythmia.
''I have noticed a difference. It hasn't gone off since the surgery,'' he said of his internal defibrillator. ''I feel much more relieved, personally. That thing just kept firing and firing and firing. I couldn't take any more of it.''
Schweikert and Cummings joined Akron General last year from the Cleveland Clinic, which has had the magnet-guided, robotic cardiac ablation system for about three years.
Akron General recently invested about $3 million to upgrade the electrophysiology lab with the new technology.
''It's the future,'' Schweikert said.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or chpowell@thebeaconjournal.com.
For some cardiac patients, a little heart burn could cure big problems.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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norton, oh
Posted 08:36 AM, 07/05/2009
long live scientists
Methron, OH
Posted 02:33 PM, 07/05/2009
Hip-hip-a-kayy!!
