Physicians at Englewood
Hospital and Medical Center have pioneered a new imaging technique that
will greatly reduce the chances of potentially deadly complications. The
innovative technique allows physicians to track the exact location of the
esophagus during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation, a
procedure which uses a high-frequency electrical current to treat
persistent abnormal heartbeats.
"This new technique maximizes the effectiveness of the ablation
procedure while minimizing the risk of esophageal injury," explains Grant
R. Simons, MD, Chief of Cardiac Electrophysiology at Englewood Hospital and
Medical Center. "Damage to the esophagus is a rare but very serious
complication which is associated with RFA of atrial fibrillation. Our
findings present a significant advance in operative safety, and we expect
that other centers will adopt this technique."
The technique was created by physicians and surgeons in the Division of
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Department of Medicine, and Department of
Anesthesiology at Englewood Hospital. The research and editorial team was
directed by Dr. Simons and Cardiac Electrophysiologist David Y. Feigenblum,
MD, PhD.
An article titled "Continuous Nonfluoroscopic Localization of the
Esophagus During Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation,"
which details the research and findings of the new procedure, has been
published in the January 2007 edition of the Journal of Cardiovascular
Electrophysiology (JCE). An electronic version of the article is also
available from the JCE website.
The JCE publishes original, peer-reviewed articles to keep medical
professionals informed of the latest developments in the study and
management of arrhythmic disorders. It is the only journal devoted to the
study of the electrophysiology of the heart and blood vessels.
Other Englewood Hospital researchers included Alex I. Sherzer, MD,
Sumedha Kulkarni, MD, Jacqueline W. Pina, CVT, Jessaca L. Casey, RTCV, and
Kelly A. Salka, CVT.
About Dr. Grant R. Simons & Dr. David Y. Feigenblum
Dr. Grant R. Simons is Chief of Cardiac Electrophysiology at Englewood
Hospital and is Board Certified in Cardiac Electrophysiology and
Cardiology. He received his BA and MD from Duke University and completed
his residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School in
Boston. Dr. Simons has received advanced training from experts at the top
three world centers for atrial fibrillation ablation: at the Cleveland
Clinic and at hospitals in Bordeaux, France and Milan, Italy.
Dr. David Y. Feigenblum earned a BS in Life Sciences from Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. He received an MD/PhD from New York University
Medical School where he completed his internship and residency, as well as
a Cardiology fellowship and a subspecialty fellowship in Cardiac
Electrophysiology.
About Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is a 520-bed, acute care,
community- teaching hospital located in Englewood, New Jersey, and is
affiliated with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Englewood Hospital offers a broad range of state-of-the-art, nationally and
internationally recognized clinical programs including, the Breast Care
Center, The New Jersey Institute for the Advancement of Bloodless Medicine
and Surgery, and The Heart and Vascular Institute of New Jersey. The
Medical Center has been awarded Magnet status -- the top recognition for
extraordinary patient care -- by the American Nurses Credentialing Center
(ANCC) of the American Nurses Association for two consecutive terms. Only
2% of all U.S. hospitals achieve Magnet distinction.
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
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