New technology slashes treatment recovery times for debilitating heart condition

A new medical technology is slashing recovery times and surgery wait lists for tens of thousands of Queenslanders impacted by a debilitating heart condition.

The tool, which uses electrical pulses to reset cardiac rhythms, is being rolled out statewide.

Patient Gary Saunders said he was “out of hospital by about 3pm and back at work the next day” after he received the atrial fibrillation treatment.

The tool, which uses electrical pulses to reset cardiac rhythms, is being rolled out statewide.

Eighteen years ago, Saunders’ heart suddenly skipped a beat.

The Brisbane solicitor has battled atrial fibrillation ever since, with normal household activities becoming more difficult.

“Stairs are nearly out of the question,” he said.

The irregular heartbeat condition impacts more than half a million Aussies.

Its symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain, and puts patients at risk of stroke and heart failure.

The new device is revolutionising treatment.

A $1.7 million state government investment means the procedure will become available to more patients at all major public hospitals.

Cardiologist Dr Haris Haqqani said “2000 volts gets delivered into the vein, and we do that eight times”.

“Then we go on to the next vein.”

Prince Charles Hospital surgeons have used the “pulse field ablation” consoles on almost 200 patients.

The state government is expanding the technology – which, unlike traditional procedures that burned or froze the problem cells, is safer and less invasive.

The procedure is slashing surgery wait lists and cutting recovery times by several weeks.

“We see people who don’t have chest pain after they wake up because the lining of the heart here hasn’t been damaged at all, hasn’t been inflamed, hasn’t been heated,” Haqqani said.

A $1.7 million state government investment means the procedure will become available to more patients at all major public hospitals.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said it was “a much better patient experience”.

“It’s a much faster experience,” she said. “It means that we can get people home on the same day.”