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Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center First in Central Texas and Among First in the World
To Perform Robotic Cardiac Ablation for Cardiac Arrhythmia

Friday, January 20, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas—On Dec. 22, 2011, the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David’s Medical Center completed its first robotic cardiac ablation procedure with the Stereotaxis Epoch™ Platform for complex cardiac arrhythmias. The Epoch Platform is a state-of-the-art computer-controlled robotic navigation system that allows physicians to safely navigate in a patient’s heart to ablate diseased tissue that is causing cardiac arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats. TCAI is the first facility in Central Texas and is among the first in the world to use this technology.

More than five million people in the United States currently suffer from abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats.1 Those who suffer from these abnormal heart rhythms are five to seven times more likely to have a stroke or experience more permanent damage to the heart.2 A growing number of complex cardiac interventional procedures is driving the need for new technology that enables physicians to confidently treat areas of the heart previously unreachable or potentially unsafe with manual techniques.

J. David Burkhardt, M.D., F.H.R.S., F.A.C.C., cardiac electrophysiologist at TCAI and the chief medical advisor to Stereotaxis, performed the robotic ablation procedure to treat a patient who had an overwhelming burden of abnormal beats from the bottom chamber of the heart, causing debilitating symptoms and reducing the strength of the heart’s contraction. 

“This technology upgrade improves the efficiency of a platform that optimizes patient safety and allows for precise navigation in difficult cases,” Dr. Burkhardt said.

Epoch’s advanced computer-controlled technology allows physicians to treat common and complex cardiac arrhythmias with a great degree of safety, precision and efficiency. The physician uses sophisticated software to draw a highly detailed 3D map of the diseased cardiac tissue and drive powerful magnets positioned near the patient. Following the map, the magnets lead a soft catheter gently through the patient’s cardiac anatomy by guiding the catheter’s magnetic tip. Epoch also provides real-time collaboration for physicians. Additionally, the physician operates the technology from a separate room or workstation, using two powerful magnets to guide the catheter. As a result, less contrast medium and X-ray is used for the patient.

“Every day, new technologies are paving the way for better outcomes and improved quality of life for heart patients,” Andrea Natale, M.D., F.H.R.S., F.A.C.C., F.E.S.C., cardiac electrophysiologist and executive medical director of TCAI, said. “At TCAI, we continuously strive to reach higher standards of excellence in care, and we are committed to providing the most state-of-the art tools to allow doctors to find and treat problems quickly, efficiently and safely using the least invasive methods.”
For more information about TCAI’s use of Epoch, please visit TCAInstitute.com/our-technology.aspx.



St. David’s Medical Center
St. David’s Medical Center is part of St. David’s HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas. Founded in 1924, St. David’s Medical Center is a full-service medical center offering comprehensive medical care at three locations—St. David’s Medical Center, located at 919 East 32nd Street in Austin; Heart Hospital of Austin, located at 3801 North Lamar Blvd.; and St. David’s Georgetown Hospital, located in Georgetown at 2000 Scenic Drive. The three campuses offer a full range of medical specialties, as well as many other innovative health care services.

St. David’s Medical Center in central Austin includes a 350-bed acute care hospital and a freestanding, 64-bed rehabilitation hospital providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. St. David’s Medical Center is home to the internationally acclaimed Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute; NeuroTexas Institute (including the TIA Center for Stroke Prevention and designation as a Primary Stroke Center); complete range of women's services, including its acclaimed maternity unit, maternal fetal medicine, the region’s largest and most sophisticated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The Breast Center, and a fertility center; complex surgical services; a Bariatric Center of Excellence; and a 24-hour emergency department.

In 2011, for the second consecutive year, St. David’s Medical Center was named to the list of 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. St. David’s Medical Center was the only hospital in Central Texas to be included on the list. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center
(TCAI) is one of the world’s preeminent centers dedicated to the latest treatment advances for correcting abnormal heart rhythms such as Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib). The center is led by Executive Medical Director Andrea Natale, M.D., a world-renowned expert in the field. Natale is at the forefront of advancing treatment for A Fib, leading numerous clinical trials and participating in the development of new technologies and procedures. For more information, please visit TCAInstitute.com.