Desert Regional Medical Center using robotic system to fight atrial fibrillation
September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month. Atrial fibrillation is a heart disorder than can lead to fatal heart attacks, strokes and other complications.
At Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, the hospital recently put what’s called a stereotaxis robotic navigation system online. It’s state of the art and helps doctors treat patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a racing or irregular heartbeat.
The system allows cardiologists to more precisely navigate a catheter inside a patient’s heart when burning away circuits in the heart that are misfiring.
“They have had about 60,000 cases or more worldwide with this system, and they tracked the complications from this and they had zero complications,” said Dr. Hetal Bhakta, the director of electrophysiology at Desert Regional Medical Center.
At a cost of $2 million, Desert Regional Medical Center has one of only 69 of the robotic systems operating in the United States.
Throughout the month of October, Desert Regional Medical Center is offering free heart-health screenings that include an EKG. You can contact the hospital at 866-448-3668 to set up an appointment.
