CentraCare Medical Team Performs First-in-the-World Heart Surgery

(KNSI) – A medical team at CentraCare’s Heart and Vascular Center in St. Cloud is the first in the world to use 4D hologram technology during a structural heart procedure.

Cardiologist Dr. Jacob Dutcher used 3D software from EchoPixel before the surgery and used the company’s 4D holographic therapy guidance during the surgery to get a better picture of the patient’s heart without opening up their chest. The particular surgery was to place a WATCHMAN implant in a patient’s heart to reduce their risk of stroke due to atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat). The incision to place the implant into the heart through a vein is made in the leg.

CentraCare

“EchoPixel pre-planning True3D software helped us reduce our procedure times by more than 27 percent and increase optimal procedure outcome by 20 percent,” Dutcher said. “EchoPixel-HTG is taking us to the next level. As one of the world’s largest WATCHMAN implanting sites, we are always looking for new ways to advance and improve patient care, and are proud to be the first center in the world to offer this novel imaging technology.”

Centracare says the holographic technology guidance can shorten the length of surgeries, improve accuracy, reduce the risk of complications and lead to quicker recoveries.

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