Del Sol Opens El Paso’s First and Only Electrophysiology Lab with Stereotaxis
Del Sol Medical Center has become the first medical facility in the region to install remote magnetic navigation technology to perform cardiac ablations. The Stereotaxis Remote Magnetic Navigation System will help treat complex cardiac arrhythmias, which are disturbances in the heart’s normal rhythm.
Potential benefits for patients include shorter procedures, faster recovery time, less exposure to x-ray radiation, less risk of serious complications from damaging blood vessels or heart tissue, less likelihood of referral to more invasive open-heart surgical procedures, and the option of treatment for remote areas of the heart that were difficult, if not impossible, to access before.
Moeen Abadin, MD, a cardiologist specializing in electrophysiology at Del Sol Medical Center, successfully performed the first procedure with this cutting edge navigation technology. The May 5 procedure helped treat a patient with an Arterial Flutter. “This is a quantum step forward for patients with cardiac arrhythmia,” said Viola Cedillo, Administrative Director for Cardiovascular Services.
Del Sol’s Stereotaxis System will help treat arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, that affects about 2.6 million people in the United States. People with this condition are five to seven times more likely to have a stroke than those who do not. Arrhythmia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States.
The Stereotaxis System allows cardiologists to treat any cardiac arrhythmia with a great degree of safety, precision and efficiency, and the System has been proven to deliver excellent clinical outcomes. The physician uses sophisticated software to drive powerful magnets positioned near the patient. The software maps the arrhythmia’s pathways inside of a patient’s heart, and the magnets steer a soft catheter gently along the inside of the heart by guiding its magnetic tip. This enables the physician to safely position the catheter in the precise location at the source of the arrhythmia. The physician can then activate the catheter and effectively deliver the required treatment.
Installed in more than 140 leading institutions around the world, the system has an exceptional safety record. “Acquiring the latest technology, creating innovative health programs, and building new facilities have helped make us the only full-service, acute care facility in East El Paso. We made the decision to invest in a Stereotaxis program because it supports our commitment to the care and improvement of human life, making Del Sol a healthcare destination of choice.” said Jacob Cintron, Chief Executive Officer, Del Sol Medical Center.”