The new era in the suppression of arrhythmias – Maximum effectiveness and safety using 3D imaging

Demetrios Tsiachris Cardiologist – Interventional Electrophysiologist Director of the Laboratory of Baptization and Electrophysiology at the Standard Center of Hearts and Vasculars, Athens Medical Center The most common arrhythmia is vaginal fibrillation, which concerns 3-4% of the population. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by the chaotic fully irregular heartbeat and is now easily detected through modern smart technologies (smart watches). It is not practically a mere arrhythmia but it is a disease with an increased risk of stroke and heart failure. Changing life-style, anticoagulant treatment and its invasive treatment (catalysis – ablation) aim in an effective way to change its natural history and to the subsequent welfare and longevity. However, there is a frequent occurrence of rhythmic supraventricular re-entry tachycardias which are also arrhythmias after replacing the normal venous rate. What are the clinical characteristics of these rhythmic tachycardias? The key element that characterizes the re-entry tachycardies is the sudden onset and their abrupt interruption as the push of a button. Suddenly the heart rate is very high (from 150 to more than 200), the heart rate is not chaotic as in fibrillation but stable and may even occur dizziness or fainting. Often these arrhythmias – tachycardias are not recorded after they have stopped until access to a doctor and their diagnosis is based on these clinical characteristics. Who do these tachycardias concern? Hyperventricular re-entry tachycardias often occur from teenage age, often in exercise and in women more than in men. Their incidence and duration deteriorate over time especially after menopause. It is noteworthy that while the substrate of the tachycardia re-entry exists with our birth, it may first appear even after 65 years. What are the ways of dealing? Hyperventricular re-entry tachycardias affect the quality of patient life, but not their prediction. We advise patients to avoid swimming in the deep, stop driving on an episode, but also train them to end episodes alone with Valsalva-type manipulations (tightness in exhalation or deep seat). When the episodes are intensely symptomatic and affect the everyday life of man (avoiding travel, sports, frequent visits to emergency departments) we propose immediate intervention with catalysis. What are the developments in the catalysis of supraventricular arrhythmias? At the Laboratory of Electrophysiology and Stepping of the Standard Center of Hearts and Vasculars of the Medical Center of Athens, we perform these ablations with the most modern systems of electroanatomical mapping depicting in 3D form the area of interest with an accuracy of one thousand. With these innovative technologies we have approached success rates close to absolute (99%), while avoiding definitively the only possible complication concerning pacemaker implantation (1 in 1000 out of 1% by conventional method). The use of radiation is limited to a minimum, while catalysis is possible with complete radiation avoidance, which is necessary in pregnant women and young people. What’s the recovery period? The catalysis operation is painless, the patient is mobilised the same day and returns to work the next day. It is impressive that professional athletes have competed within 72 hours after ablation, and the improvement of their performance is given after the final healing of re-entry tachycardia. Read more articles on health issues,