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St. Paul's Hospital Heart Centre Undergoes $5.25-million Expansion to Improve Patient Care
<< BACK | Download Word File Vancouver, November 25, 2005 — A $5.25-million renovation to the Heart Centre at St. Paul's Hospital will improve patient access and expand capacity when it opens November 28 in what is already BC's largest cardiac care program. The changes include state-of-the-art equipment in a new Electrophysiology (EP) suite, and an improved Cardiac Procedure room. The Cardiac Short Stay Unit, where patients are prepared for, and then recover from their cardiac procedures, has also been completely renovated and expanded to 18 beds, up from 14. The renovation and expansion will improve access for patients who need specialized diagnostic, therapeutic and device implantation procedures, particularly related to rhythm disturbances of the heart. This will allow many patients to be treated sooner, and, in some cases, shorten their stay in hospital. With the renovations, St. Paul's Hospital will have the capacity to perform up to 30 per cent more EP procedures, cardiac catheterization procedures and cardiac device implantations. As well, the expanded capacity will free up almost seven weeks of operating and recovery room time that can be used for other surgical procedures. This improved service for patients from across the province was made possible by $2.9 million from the St. Paul's Hospital Foundation for equipment and $ 2.35 million from Vancouver Coastal Health for the renovated space. "These renovations will ensure that the latest medical advances are available to BC patients with heart conditions. Providence Health Care, Vancouver Coastal Health and our other partners in health care are committed to ensuring that BC's cardiac patients have the best technologies and treatment options available," said Dr. Ron Carere, Physician Director of the St. Paul's Heart Centre. Over the past decade, research and evolving technology have made it possible for cardiac specialists to provide new or better treatments for patients with many heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems and congestive heart failure. For example, cardiologists who specialize in electrophysiology can help patients with some types of abnormal heart rhythms by mapping out and selectively eliminating, or ablating, the electrical area of the heart that is causing the problem. These patients previously required a lifetime of medication. The renovated areas of the Heart Centre will be equipped with the latest heart rhythm mapping technology required to do these procedures. As well, rapidly increasing numbers of patients are receiving highly advanced electrical devices, such as implantable cardiac defibrillators. The new Electrophysiology suite and renovated Cardiac Procedure room will be equipped for:
As the largest and most comprehensive cardiac care program in British Columbia, St. Paul's serves a number of unique patient populations and many of the province's most complex and difficult cardiac cases. Its services include everything from heart attack prevention programs and open-heart surgery to unique programs such as heart transplantation, the Pacific Adult Congenital Heart Clinic, and mechanical support (ventricular assist devices) for patients with severe heart failure. As a University of British Columbia-affiliated teaching hospital, St. Paul's serves as a training facility for cardiac professionals, and is a leader in heart disease research, both in the laboratory and in the clinic. St. Paul's is part of Providence Health Care, which also includes Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospitals (Langara and Brock Fahrni) and Youville Residence. Providence is Canada's largest faith-based health-care organization. -30- CONTACTS: Gavin Wilson Providence Health Care Communications Tel. 604-806-8583 Email gwilson@providencehealth.bc.ca Anne McLaughlin St. Paul's Hospital Foundation Tel. 604-806-8917 Email amclaughlin@providencehealth.bc.ca Glossary Ablation During an ablation, high-frequency electrical energy is delivered through a catheter to a small area of tissue inside the heart that causes the abnormal heart rhythm. This energy "disconnects" the electrical pathway of the abnormal rhythm. Ablation is used to treat PSVTs, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and other atrial and ventricular tachycardias (excessively rapid heartbeat). It can also be used to disconnect the electrical pathway between the atria and the ventricles, which may be useful in people with atrial fibrillation. Ablation may be combined with other procedures to achieve optimal treatment. Atrial Referring to the upper chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation AF is a very common irregular heart rhythm that causes the atria, the upper chambers of the heart to contract abnormally. It can be corrected with EP. Atrial flutter An irregularity of the heartbeat in which the contractions of the atrium exceed in number those of the ventricle. Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator An ICD is a sophisticated device used primarily to treat ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, two life-threatening heart rhythms. The ICD constantly monitors the heart rhythm. When it detects a very fast, abnormal heart rhythm, it delivers electrical energy to the heart muscle to cause the heart to beat in a normal rhythm again. There are several ways the ICD can be used to restore normal heart rhythm. Electrophysiology An EP study is a test that records the electrical activity and measures the electrical pathways of the heart. This test is used to determine the cause and locate the site of heart rhythm disturbance and the best treatment. During the test, physicians reproduce abnormal heart rhythms and may give the patient different medications to see which one controls it best. Sometimes an EP study is conducted before implantable cardiac defibrillator placement to determine which device is best and afterwards to monitor treatment success. St. Paul's is one of only two centres in the province providing electrophysiology mapping and heart rhythm treatments. Transesophageal Echocardiology TEE is a diagnostic heart ultrasound test using a probe that is passed down the patient's esophagus, offering the cardiologist an exceptionally detailed view of the chambers of the heart. Patients are sedated or anesthetized for their comfort and need monitoring during and after the procedure. Many of the patients who require TEE have heart valve disease, unexpected heart failure or complex congenital heart problems. Ventricle Referring to the low chambers of the heart << BACK | Download Word File |
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