Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center First in the United States to Utilize Newly FDA-Cleared CARTO(R) 3 Navigation System

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, November 2, 2009, Andrea Natale, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.H.R.S., an electrophysiologist and executive medical director of the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center, will be the first physician in the United States to perform an ablation procedure to treat a patient with a cardiac arrhythmia, commonly known as an irregular heart rhythm, using the newly FDA-cleared CARTO® 3 Navigation System.

"Imaging with the new CARTO® 3 System puts us at the forefront of being able to visualize and treat nearly every type of arrhythmia," Dr. Natale said. "It also reinforces our commitment to helping the growing pool of arrhythmia patients get fast, effective treatment."

The CARTO® 3 Navigation System is a three-dimensional imaging system that allows doctors to quickly and accurately visualize cardiac anatomy. It is especially useful in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, or AFIB. AFIB is the most common type of irregular heart rhythm in the United States, affecting an estimated 5.6 million people* and is increasing due to the rise in the aging population.

Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center offers a full range of electrophysiology procedures, including catheter ablation--for which physicians utilize the only FDA-approved catheter for treating AFIB, the NAVISTAR® THERMOCOOL® Irrigated Ablation Catheter. THERMOCOOL® Navigation Catheters are approved (for drug refractory recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) when used with CARTO® 3 Systems.** The CARTO® 3 System gives doctors the ability to pinpoint the location of these catheters during ablation procedures with unprecedented speed, precision and clarity.

St. David's Medical Center
Founded in 1924, St. David's Medical Center is the flagship hospital of St. David's HealthCare. Located within minutes of downtown Austin at 32nd Street and IH35, St. David's Medical Center's comprehensive care services include specialties in neurology and neurosurgery, including the renowned NeuroTexas Institute and the TIA Center for Stroke Prevention; cardiac services, including the acclaimed Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute; a Bariatric Center of Excellence; maternity and newborn services with Level I, II and III nurseries; orthopedics; inpatient and outpatient surgery; and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. The medical center includes St. David's Hospital (acute care) and St. David's Rehabilitation Center (physical medicine and rehabilitation). The 347-bed hospital features a 24-hour emergency department. St. David's Medical Center is a designated Primary Stroke Center and a nationally certified Chest Pain Center. For more information, please visit www.StDavids.com/sdmc.aspx

*According to the Olmstead County data (Miyasaka et al., Circulation, 2006)
** Excluding NAVISTAR® RMT THERMOCOOL® Catheter

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