Cardiac Arrhythmia, or an abnormal heartbeat, is a serious but treatable condition that affects roughly 10 million Indians. Arrhythmias occur when the electrical impulses, in the heart, which coordinate the heartbeats don’t function properly, causing the heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. The most common presenting symptoms are palpitation [awareness of fast heart beating], giddiness, breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness [syncope] and sudden death. These cardiac rhythm disturbances can occur because of aging, hypertension, heart attack, lung and thyroid disease and heart failure etc. Sometimes it could happen because of birth defect in cardiac electrical system or genetic disorders.
Among the various Heart Rhythm Disorders, Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common and it was first demonstrated on ECG more than a century ago. Age is an important risk factor for development of new onset AF apart from hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and respiratory disorders. Cardiac arrhythmias can be treated effectively, through drugs, devices, Radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure or a combination of all three. Apollo Hospitals is one of the few hospitals in India to have the most advanced 3D mapping technology [CARTO system] with Smart touch. This technology helps to pin point the site of origin of rhythm disturbances and accurately deliver the Radio frequency energy. Apollo Hospitals uses this technology to cure complex and life-threatening arrhythmias with high success rate.
Mr. G. Balamurugan, a 47-year-old from Panruti was admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Greams road, Chennai with palpitations and shortness of breath. He was diagnosed with Cardiac Arrhythmia by Dr.A M. Karthigesan, Senior Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist, and his team decided to use the 3D mapping smart touch technology (CARTO) to safely ablate tiny areas of diseased heart tissue that caused rhythm disturbances.
Speaking about the procedure, Dr. AM. Karthigesan, Senior Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist, Apollo Hospitals said, “This is a significant improvement in patient safety and the performance of minimally invasive procedures. Current methods for visualizing the heart, using X-rays and fluoroscopy are potentially hazardous because they involve radiation and produce only two-dimensional images, which are not as accurate as 3D images. 3D mapping allows in pinpointing the catheter tip during a procedure, giving the electrophysiologist a more concrete awareness on the placement of abrasions.” He also expressed that, “If the condition is ignored cardiac arrhythmia could lead to stroke.”
These cardiac rhythm disturbances can occur because of age, hypertension, heart attack, lung and thyroid disease, heart failure etc. Palpitation, Dizziness, fatigue, fainting are few of the common symptoms. Detecting arrhythmias at the early stages could improve a patient’s chance of survival by providing enough time for treatment and saving life.
The Arrhythmia Clinic at Apollo hospital Chennai, will focus on the management of patients diagnosed or suspected with cardiac rhythm disorders and patients with newly diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation. A comprehensive range of investigative and treatment options can be accessed via the clinic, including all types of catheter ablation, pacemaker and device implantation for various heart rhythm disorders.
