PATIENTS across the county suffering heart rhythm conditions are benefiting from new technology which allows surgeons to pinpoint problems quicker and more accurately.
Patients with heart rhythm disturbance benefit from a procedure which involves inserting thin wire catheters into the groin and up to the heart.
Electrodes on the catheters help identify the cause of the heart rhythm problem.
Once this has been done the doctor can place one of the catheters at the source of the problem and remove the undesirable tissue.
This is normally done using X-rays to guide the surgeon.
The new Carto® 3 imaging system at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust uses electromagnetic fields to create three-dimensional images of a patient’s heart.
With this surgeons can rapidly map the heart to ensure accurate, real-time visualisation of the heart and wire catheters inside.
As a result, there is an increased success rate following the procedure and lower radiation dose for both patient and operator while also improving patient comfort.
Consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist, Dr Bashar Aldhoon, said: “The Carto® 3 system is very similar to a car’s navigation system that guides the driver with visual and audio cues to ensure safe parking.
Its accurate mapping system means we can pinpoint a patient’s cardiac arrhythmias quickly and accurately, which results in a higher success rate, undoubtedly essential for improving outcomes for our patients.”
Isobelle Batkin was the first patient to undergo a procedure using the Carto® 3 system last week – allowing cardiologists to identify her heart rhythm abnormality and successfully cured her that a previous procedure in another hospital using X-rays had been unable to pick up.
The 22-year-old said: “All staff were really kind and ensured that I was relaxed leading up to the procedure.
“I have since recovered really well and I’m really relieved that I don’t have to worry about this now and can start the New Year fixed.”
