News

Extreme cold helps heart patients at Greenslopes

Apr 24, 2019

Patients suffering irregular heartbeat will now have access to more effective treatment, with the arrival of cryoablation at Greenslopes Private Hospital.

The procedure uses extreme cold to destroy the heart cells that cause atrial fibrillation, which is an arrhythmia that can lead to severe cardiac issues.

Nurse unit manager Emma Neylan said: “Arrhythmias are abnormal rhythms of the heart that can cause many health issues including heart failure, exercise intolerance, fatigue, and even death, depending on the type of rhythm.”

The technique involves the doctor inserting a balloon catheter into the heart chambers and blood vessels, guided by medical imaging. Once the catheter is in the correct position, a cold gas is used to inflate the balloon to freeze and disable the unwanted heart cells.

Electrophysiologist Dr Vincent Deen has helped to bring the new procedure to the hospital – just in time for Heart Week which aims to raise awareness about risk factors of heart disease.

“I think this procedure is going to be more effective in terms of recurrence. Trials have shown it’s as effective as radio frequency techniques, but quicker,” Dr Deen said.

Dr Deen has been working at Greenslopes Private Hospital since 1999 and has performed more than 200 cryoablation procedures during his career.

“It’s easier to do so we can undertake two or three procedures in the same time it takes to do the radio frequency case. This means the lab can put more cases through and we can help more patients,” Dr Deen said.

The risk of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age and it currently affects two in every 100 people.

The procedure takes only an hour and a half and is recommended for patients when prescribed medication fails to work.