First in the World, Doctors Use GPS for Heart Operation

(Photo: thinkstock)

Technology GPS or Global Positioning System is generally used for navigating directions while driving or traveling. In the medical world, this tool also can be very worthwhile to navigate the doctor during surgery.

This technology could help doctors direct the operation of the target accurately. Medical professionals at Massachusetts General Hospital to try to treat atrial fibrillation, the heart rate abnormalities most frequently encountered.

"We did it today for the first time, this has never been done before," said Dr. Moussa Mansour, director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory and Atrium Fibrillation Program at Massachusetts General Hospital as reported by CBS News, Saturday (09/02/2013).

When atrial fibrillation occurs, the heart sends signals quickly into the atrium or upper chamber of the heart. Heart rate so rapid and irregular. Blood who gathered in the atrium not pumped to the ventricles or space under the heart. As a result, sufferer will feel fatigue and breathless. 

These disorders can occur occasionally or sustained over several years. Each time appears, this disorder can damage the body. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke and cause chest pain or congestive heart failure.

Is estimated that there 2.66 million people who have this condition worldwide. The risk increases with increasing age. To treat the disorder, the patient must undergo several times X-ray inspection, And if too much irradiation can cause cancer.

Therefore, the doctor uses a device called Mediguide, which is a combination of X-ray technology with GPS. This tool allows the doctor put the catheter from the leg to the heart to overcome the disturbance of atrial fibrillation. In this way, exposure to X-ray radiation can be reduced up to 90 percent.

"Hopefully with this new system we will benefit from the examination with risk of radiation exposure that is minimal," said Mansour.

Source:  CBS News