2010 Performance Report:
Electrophysiology Procedures (EP).
Electrophysiology (EP) is the science of understanding, diagnosing, and treating the electrical activities of the heart. Treatments include ablation for atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat), implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and pacemakers. (Shown at right) The electrophysiology program at St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana continues to grow. In 2009, 2,166 EP procedures were performed at St.Vincent Heart Center.
In 2006, we began to see the number of ablation cases increase. Ablation is a procedure that destroys very small areas of the heart that cause irregular heart beat. This number has continued to rise through 2009, with 389 cases: a 20 percent increase from 2008 and a 49 percent increase from 2005. (Shown below)
The number of patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) continues to increase as well. In response, the A-Fib Center of Excellence at St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana provides a comprehensive offering of diagnostic tests, treatments and select surgeries. A-Fib ablations have increased significantly for the second consecutive year at St.Vincent Heart Center to a total of 155 for 2009 (Shown below)
Ablation procedures at St.Vincent Heart Center result in cures in about 95 percent of cases. Ablation to cure atrial fibrillation commonly results in a lower success rate. The success rate for St.Vincent Heart Center in 2009 was approximately 70 – 80 percent, which is consistent with the published results for this procedure at other major centers.