NSW hospital first to offer cutting-edge technology for atrial fibrillation

MedTech & Diagnostics News: Hurstville Private Hospital in New South Wales has proudly become the first hospital to introduce a cutting-edge medical technology to transform the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition characterised by an irregular heart rhythm that can result in breathlessness, palpitations and fatigue.

With an estimated 500,000 Australians currently grappling with AF, the introduction of Biosense Webster’s combined nGEN/QDOT MICRO technology provides a much-needed breakthrough in surgical treatment options.

Dr Calvin Hsieh, Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Hurstville Private Hospital, stated “Atrial Fibrillation is a major health issue in Australia and a leading cause of stroke and and other morbidities/mortalities.”

Some patients with arrythmias are not successful with, or cannot tolerate, drug therapy. Catheter ablation is associated with a significant improvement in patient quality of life, with studies showing improvements of more than 50% compared to drug therapy.

The technology from Biosense Webster, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, combines the world’s first very high-power short duration ablation catheter. This state-of-the-art technology significantly reduces the total ablation procedure time without compromising patient safety. This remarkable feature means that patients undergoing the procedure may experience reduced exposure to harmful radiation and require less anaesthesia.

Prior to the launch of the nGEN/QDot system, ablation technologies relied on lower power delivery, resulting in comparatively longer procedures. The improved efficiency offered by this breakthrough technology translates into a host of benefits for patients, including potentially faster recovery times, reduced nursing and facility time, and fewer complications. Moreover, the time saved per procedure could enable hospitals to accommodate more patients and alleviate procedural waiting times, ultimately improving patient access and reducing overall costs.

Dr Hsieh expressed his excitement, stating “Being the first in New South Wales to offer this cutting-edge technology is a remarkable milestone. Our patients can now benefit from a faster recovery and reduced complications, marking an exciting development in the field of cardiology.”

“We are excited to be at the forefront of this innovative treatment,” said Martina Goddard, CEO of Hurstville Private Hospital which is part of the Healthe Care private hospital group.

For more difficult AF cases, a clinical partnership in Australia is offering advanced surgical ablation. Hollywood Private Hospital is a training and education hub in Australasia for the specialist heart procedure Hybrid Catheter Ablation and Surgical Ablation (HyCASA).

The CONVERGE clinical trial found that the hybrid AF procedure had superior effectiveness compared to endocardial catheter ablation alone for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation. 

Hearts4Heart CEO, Tanya Hall, said HyCASA provides an important alternative for patients when other therapies have failed.

“These are the patients with the most debilitating levels of Atrial Fibrillation where no other therapy has proven successful. We would like to see more surgeons being trained in HyCASA so that it is accessible for all patients, in all states across Australia,” Ms Hall said.

Cardiovascular disease affects 16.6% of the Australian population, making it the leading cause of death in the country. Furthermore, cardiovascular disease incurs an annual cost of over $5 billion, surpassing all other diseases in terms of economic impact.

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