An inside view

Giving doctors a closer look at your heart

Deborah Heart and Lung Center is once again expanding its arsenal of treatment options, this time for patients with rhythm disorders—abnormally fast rhythms known as tachycardia. With the addition of the Biosense Webster CARTO™ XP EP Navigation System, commonly called a mapping system, Deborah’s electrophysiologists can now efficiently diagnose and treat a wide range of patients with abnormal heart rhythms, many of whom were previously referred to other institutions.

Improving diagnosis

"The CARTO XP System provides Deborah with the ability to make a three-dimensional map of the heart’s rhythm disturbances," says Raffaele Corbisiero, M.D., director of Deborah’s Electrophysiology Department. "This allows for a more successful result when dealing with complex ablations."

The Biosense Webster CARTO XP EP Navigation System allows electrophysiologists to observe complex spatial relationships within the heart by using three-dimensional electro-anatomical maps to literally visualize a patient’s electrical conduction system, color-coding and superimposing the image onto an anatomical map. This real-time feature reduces unnecessary radiation exposure, shortens procedure times and minimizes radio frequency (RF) applications.

Improving treatment

RF ablation, which cures 98 percent of common cardiac arrhythmias, is a nonsurgical treatment in which a catheter is passed into the heart to target the precise area of the heart tissue causing the arrhythmia. An arrhythmia can often be controlled by medications, but if drugs are unsuccessful or if their side effects become intolerable, RF ablation is ultimately recommended.

"This new system not only contributes to our lab efficiency, it also increases the number of cases Deborah can perform," says Dr. Corbisiero. "The fact that we now provide this technology is yet another example of our commitment to providing patients with the best technology has to offer."