The University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) is the first hospital in the state where patients may benefit from a new advanced imaging technology used in treating cardiac arrhythmias, commonly known as irregular heart rhythms.

"Cardiac electrophysiology is a field that has made tremendous technological advances and has allowed us to effectively cure cardiac arrhythmias that were untreatable five or 10 years ago," said William Sauer, M.D., director of cardiac electrophysiology at UCH. "The technological advances include the improved imaging and mapping technologies we are using today."

The new three-dimensional imaging system, called the CARTO 3 Navigation System, allows UCH physicians to quickly and accurately visualize cardiac anatomy. The system will be especially useful in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, or afib, the most common type of irregular heart rhythm in the U.S.

UCH performs more complex arrhythmia ablation procedures than any other hospital in the region and this new technology will be beneficial to patients who undergo the procedure. The ablation procedure finds and eliminates areas of faulty electrical flow in the heart that disturb normal heart rhythms.

Physicians have used the new imaging system for ablation of ventricular fibrillation and atrial fibrillation procedures.

"This advance in technology gives UCH another weapon in our arsenal for treating the most complex cardiac cases including ventricular arrhythmias which can lead to sudden cardiac death, and atrial fibrillation," Sauer said.