New milestones for the treatment of atrial fibrillation

Saint John’s becomes the first West Coast hospital to offer the latest in arrhythmia management

In January 2010, Saint John’s Health Center became the first hospital in the region to not only use the latest in 3D mapping technology, a combination of electromagnetic and current based technology called Carto 3, but also the only hospital on the West Coast to use Endoscopic Laser Balloon ablation of atrial fibrillation.

“Saint John’s did the first U.S. cases of Laser Balloon Ablation in 2007 in the “Enable” Protocol,” explained Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing at Saint John’s Health Center Shephal K. Doshi, MD. “Since that time, the balloon has been modified and improved primarily with clinical research we have done in Europe. The cases we did with Carto 3 were also spectacular, and I expect that both of these innovative technologies will make a significant impact in the management of atrial fibrillation.”

Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the heart’s two upper chambers have “short-circuited” and don’t beat effectively.  This can cause blood to pool and clot which significantly raises the risk of a stroke. Atrial fibrillation affects more than 2 million Americans.

“In people who are very symptomatic, drugs don’t work well,” Dr. Doshi said. “Laser Balloon ablation is a new form of therapy that may change the way we treat atrial fibrillation.”

Endoscopic Laser Balloon ablation allows doctors for the first time to look directly into the heart by using a camera slightly thicker than strands of hair.  Under direct visualization laser energy is aimed directly at the cardiac cells destroying the abnormal tissue. This differs from the 3D mapping provided by technology such as Carto 3.

“While Carto 3 appears unsurpassed in resolution and accuracy when it comes to 3D mapping, Laser Balloon allows us to look directly inside the heart,” Dr. Doshi explained. “It is a little like using a GPS to drive versus driving by direct sight. Both are incredible milestones for arrhythmia management and are being done here at Saint John’s.”

Last year Saint John’s did some of the first West Coast cases with Carto 3 creating 3D geometry using a newly approved spiral catheter. Saint John’s is the also the only center is the West Coast using the Endoscopic Laser Balloon.

“We’ve built a cutting-edge, world-class Electrophysiology Lab at Saint John’s,” Dr. Doshi said. “The physicians and staff, through the support of the administration, have been involved in ground-breaking research in the management of atrial fibrillation. We believe that all this hard work will make a significant impact for patients with atrial fibrillation.”