St. Luke's Baptist Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the country using a new robotic catheter system to treat heart rhythm problems that can cause strokes. Dr. David Pederson is chief of cardiology at St. Luke's in San Antonio and is one of only 20 doctors in the country currently trained to use the new technology.
Electrical problems in the heart are traditionally treated by inserting a catheter into the heart and using radiofrequency energy to burn tiny scars in problem areas which gets the heart beating correctly again. With the robot, doctors can get to areas they couldn't reach before and can guide the catheter with much more control and stability. 53-year-old Jose Lopez has suffered from atrial fibrillation for many years.
Atrial Fibrillation
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He recently underwent the new minimally invasive procedure, performed by Dr. Pederson in the electrophysiology lab at St. Luke's Baptist Hospital. "It's a tightness in the chest, and it slows me down." says Lopez. "So I'm looking forward to having more energy, and playing more golf after the procedure," he says with a smile.
Dr. Pederson operates a robot from a control station a few feet away from where Lopez lies awake on the operating table. Computer calculations cut down on the time it takes to complete the procedure and gives the surgeon a more exact picture of what's going on as compared to maneuvering the catheter by hand. "It's also safer and more efficient," Pederson says.
Nearly two million people in the U.S. suffer from atrial fibrillation. The inadequate blood flow to the body can lead to stroke. This happens when blood left in the heart pools and forms clots that can dislodge and travel to the brain. According to the American College of Cardiology, some 75,000 strokes occur each year as a result of atrial fibrillation. Correcting heart rhythm problems is crucial in preventing disability and deaths from strokes.
David Pederson, MD, is a member in good standing of the medical staff at St. Luke's Baptist Hospital. However, physicians are independent contractors who are neither employees nor agents of St. Luke's Baptist Hospital or of the Baptist Health System and as a result, Baptist Health System is not responsible for the acts of Dr. Pederson in his medical practice.
