Wednesday, April 3, 2013

High-tech vest helps doctors investigate abnormal heart beats (UK)

High-tech vest helps doctors investigate abnormal heart beats (UK)Cardiologists at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust are the first in the UK to test a high-tech vest which helps them accurately pinpoint the cause of rapid and abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias). The team, led by consultant cardiologist Dr Prapa Kanagaratnam, have tested the ECVUE system in 40 patients at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. The Trust is one of only three centres worldwide and the first in the UK to use the system to find the source of extra heartbeats that cause symptoms such as chest discomfort and thumping sensations. At least one million people in the UK have experienced frequent palpitations which can be very disturbing on their day to day activity. In some cases arrhythmias can cause fainting and be potentially life-threatening

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