St.Jude introduces mobile simulator to train cardiologists

St. Jude Medical Inc, one of the world's leading medical devices company, has introduced in India a unique mobile virtual reality simulator to train cardiologists and electrophysiologists in treatment of atrial fibrillation or heart rhythm disorders.

Headquartered here, St. Jude Medical India Private Limited made this technology available at Care Hospitals, where doctors from different parts of the country are being trained in developing clinical skills in a controlled environment to perform complicated procedures.

Kaustav Banerjee, country manager, St. Jude Medical, told reporters Saturday that the company would provide free of cost the technology at some other centres in the country for the training.

"Training is a key focus area for us to improve access to technology especially in electrophysiology and cardiology," he said.

The simulator creates clinical complications and helps physicians get training in life-like and risk free environment.

C. Narasimhan, senior cardiologist and electro-physiologist at Care Hospitals, said while the simulator can't be a substitute for a real life training, it helps shorten the training period from three months to three weeks and minimize the errors.

He said the simulator, being used for the first time by any hospital in the country, also help the physicians in achieving the precision required to perform complex procedures. "After the training they will be fully prepared to do the procedures on patients," the doctor added.

Narasimhan said the training will help the cardiologists and electro-physiologists to learn how to move the catheter, enter into pulmonary veins, release radio frequency energy and do other complex interventions in the left atrium.

According to him, the simulator help in training for complex procedures like coronary sinus cannula, pulmonary vein isolation, atrial flutter ablation and transseptal puncture.

About eight percent of people above 70 years suffer from Atrial Fibrillation, which is a cause of 30 percent of all strokes. One to two per thousand people below 70 years suffer from this condition.

The doctor pointed out that in the US, three million people every year suffer from atrial fibrillation. In India, this figure is estimated to be three to four times higher.