New 3D Technology to detect Irregular Heart Beats

A new study conducted at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taipei has revealed that use of high-resolution imaging can provide a great deal of help to the doctors who are treating patients suffering from irregular heartbeat, reports Blackwell publishing.

A new study conducted at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taipei has revealed that use of high-resolution imaging can provide a great deal of help to the doctors who are treating patients suffering from irregular heartbeat, reports Blackwell publishing.The study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology (JCE) describes the mechanism of atrial flutter, a common heart rhythm disturbance that circulates around the atria, or top chambers of the human heart. Three-dimensional illustrations of the electrical pathways in 26 patients with atrial flutter documented multiple patterns of abnormal contractions through the heart, contractions that could have been missed by more conventional diagnostic methods.Dr. Ching-Tai Tai, the lead author, “We were able to show that 3D mapping in our patients uncovered additional abnormal electrical circuits.” According to JCE Editor-in-Chief, Eric N. Prystowsky, “Atrial flutter is a common disorder that can occur in patients with heart disease, but more commonly in those with conditions such as oronary artery disease and hypertension, and in patients who have had cardiac surgery. A better understanding of the mechanisms of atrial flutter and how to map the disorder in humans will lead to improved cure rates.”(Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology: June 2004)