Sep 18 2012
Sentara Heart Hospital is leading the way in an innovative Atrial
Fibrillation (AF) procedure for what is typically the most difficult to
treat or persistent, forms of AF. This past week, surgeons and
cardiologists at Sentara
Heart Hospital were the first in the world to begin performing
surgeries in the Dual
Epicardial Endocardial Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Study (Staged
DEEP) feasibility trial. The first procedure was performed by
cardiothoracic surgeon collaborator Jonathan Philpott, M.D., director of
the Sentara Atrial Fibrillation Surgery Program and cardiac
electrophysiologist collaborator Ian Woollett, M.D. of Cardiovascular
Associates.
The Staged DEEP trial is a Food and Drug Administration-approved pilot
study sponsored by cardiac device manufacturer, AtriCure, Inc. The study
is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a combined procedure
whereby the surgeon creates lines of block on the outside of the heart
working through tiny chest incisions. During the same hospital stay, an
electrophysiologist tests the surgical lines and then completes
additional ablation lines using tiny catheters within the heart. There
are currently no FDA approved devices for the Minimally Invasive
Surgical (MIS) or endocardial treatment of persistent forms of AF and
current options yield very limited success.
"We believe that this staged hybrid procedure has the potential to
represent an important advancement in the treatment of persistent forms
of AF," commented Robert Bernstein, M.D., a leading electrophysiologist
in Norfolk VA, and one of four electrophysiologists at Sentara
collaborating in the trial. "Our initial experience with this hybrid
procedure suggests that it represents a highly promising AF treatment."
AF is the most common irregular heartbeat affecting more than 2 million
people in the United States. AF is characterized by heart palpitations,
dizziness and shortness of breath. Persistent forms of AF comprise
roughly half of the AF patient population. This number is expected to
increase significantly due to the progressive nature of the disease and
the aging population.
Dr. Philpott added, "Our preliminary experience with this procedure is
very encouraging. The partnership between the electrophysiologist and
the cardiac surgeon in the hybrid procedure leverages the skills and
technologies of each specialist providing patients with the most
comprehensive ablation and mapping procedure available."
Dr. Woollett added, "Staging these procedures gives the cardiac surgeon
and the electrophysiologist the flexibility to work within their own
familiar environments making each team more efficient and effective."