Cardiac mapping – typically accomplished by inserting a catheter into the heart via an artery or vein – allows physicians to locate the origin of a patient’s irregular heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias.
“Using leading-edge technology like the mapping vest allows us to get superior results without subjecting the patient to an invasive procedure,” said Nazir. “It allows us to get the data we need without additional risk.”
The CardioInsight system can be used to map a wide range of irregular heart rhythms in the upper and lower chambers of the heart. A 252-electrode sensor vest is worn by the patient, which pairs body surface electrical data with heart-torso anatomy.
The noninvasive technology creates the electroanatomic maps of the heart by collecting electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from the chest and combining them with data from a computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart. The cardiac maps can be created by capturing a single heartbeat and enable rapid heart rhythm mapping.
Arrhythmias are abnormal heart beats caused by changes in the normal electrical impulses of the heart. They can be life-threatening. Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the most common form of arrhythmia.
Ronald Freudenberger, MD, Physician in Chief, Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, said employing technology such as the mapping vest is a hallmark of Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) continued drive for innovation that benefits and elevates patient care.
