First 3D Heart Catheterizations In United States Used To Guide Complex Cardiac Interventions And Atrial Fibrillation Ablations

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics;  Heart Disease
Article Date: 19 Mar 2009 - 2:00 PST

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Cardiologists Edward Tadajweski, MD, and Jeffrey L. Williams, MD, MS, FACC, are the first in U.S. to perform 3D imaging of complex cardiac anatomy using GE's Innova 3D imaging system. On 26 February 2009, they performed 3D reconstructions on two patients' hearts in the third Interventional Catheterization Laboratory of The Good Samaritan Hospital. The first patient underwent 3D angiography of the coronary sinus to guide a biventricular defibrillator implantation with a left ventricular pacemaker lead. The second patient underwent 3D angiography of the left atrium and pulmonary veins to plan an atrial fibrillation arrhythmia ablation.

"To perform complex interventions and stent placement, deploy [pacemaker or defibrillator] devices or perform atrial fibrillation ablations successfully, you must know exactly where heart anatomy and devices are in relation to one another. Working in a three-dimensional space is critical to better visualize the anatomy before these complex procedures," states Dr. Tadajweski. He continues, "Our state-of-the-art catheterization laboratory allows us to rapidly acquire and reconstruct 3D cardiac anatomy images. It is designed to enhance, but not replace, traditional 2D fluoroscopic imaging."

The performance of complex cardiac procedures, such as advanced defibrillator placement, structural heart interventions, or atrial fibrillation (arrhythmia) ablation, is facilitated by the visualization of 3D anatomy. Providing 3D views of internal body structures and interventional devices in one image, this state-of-the-art system assists physicians in diagnosis, surgical planning, interventional procedures and treatment follow-up. It permits better management of structural heart disease, streamlines interventional procedures, and minimizes radiation dose to physicians, staff and patients by selecting working views without fluoroscopy.

The Invasive Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at The Good Samaritan Hospital (http://www.gshleb.org) offer patients the most advanced cardiac and peripheral interventional care including diagnostic catheterization and stent placement as well as assessment of structural heart disease. The Electrophysiology Laboratory offers the most advanced 3D intracardiac mapping system and intracardiac echocardiography available and is the only center in Central PA to offer jet ventilation for advanced cardiac ablation (e.g., atrial fibrillation, SVT, VT) to ensure the safest possible procedures. In addition, the EP Laboratory offers advanced device implantation including pacemakers, defibrillators, beventricular defibrillators, and implantable loop recorders.

Good Samaritan Hospital has received the Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure Gold Performance Achievement Award from the American Heart Association.

Dr. Tadajweski is a board-certified Interventional Cardiologist who specializes in complex cardiac and peripheral interventions including stent placement. Dr. Williams is a board-certified Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist who specializes in advanced cardiac heart rhythm evaluation, intracardiac arrhythmia ablation (including atrial fibrillation) and implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators. They are available for consultations at Good Samaritan Hospital and at their practice, Lebanon Cardiology Associates, Lebanon, PA (http://www.lebanoncardiology.com). LCA has been providing cardiac care to Lebanon County for over 20 years and offers their patients innovative and state of the art treatment including cardiac imaging, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, peripheral vascular disease, and heart failure. Both GSH and LCA are only 14 miles from Hershey, centrally located between Lancaster and Reading. In addition, they are located less than 5 minutes from the Lebanon VA Medical Center.

Source
Good Samaritan Hospital

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