Heart-saving Technology
The benefits of stereotaxis magnetic treatment for arrhythmia.
Arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, can leave people feeling like they’re running a race, even when they’re standing still. Some people even lose consciousness. Fortunately, treatment can help. Michael Rothkopf, M.D., a cardiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Irving, explains how new technology can help correct these problems.
Q: What is arrhythmia?
A: It’s when the heartbeat isn’t normal— it can be too slow or too fast. Pacemakers help with slow heartbeats, while fast heartbeats can be treated with medication or a procedure called ablation.
Q: What is ablation?
A: Arrhythmia is usually caused by hyperactive electrical signals in the heart. So we place the tip of a one- to two-millimeter catheter next to the tissue that’s generating the irregular signals and cauterize it. It’s a very controlled, small injury to the site that’s causing the problem.
Q: Why is ablation challenging?
A: It can be difficult at times to position the catheter and hold it still, because the heart is beating and moving. The heart’s arteries, veins and capillaries can be damaged easily. We don’t want the catheter moving out of position. Now we can use the Stereotaxis magnetic treatment system to help keep the catheter in the right place.
Q: How does the system work?
A: It uses a magnetic field to keep the catheter in place. There are two very large, round magnets, five feet in diameter, that create a magnetic field around the patient. The computer-controlled magnets guide the catheter, and we can control it like a video game, moving it a couple of millimeters at a time in any direction.
Q: What are the benefits of Stereotaxis?
A: It’s typically safer and more precise. The procedure generally takes less time, and recovery is faster. There’s less exposure to radiation or dye and a lower risk of complications. Plus, we can reach some areas of the heart that would have been impossible to reach otherwise, so we can help people who had to rely on drugs that didn’t fully alleviate their symptoms.
By Stephanie Thurrott
For a referral to a cardiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Irving, call 1-800-4BAYLOR or use our on-line physician directory. Learn more about heart treatments at Baylor Irving.