These patients' hearts stopped a dozen times a day. An innovative procedure has transformed their lives.
Live Science • • health
Key Points:
- Sarah Hall suffered from cardioinhibitory syncope, a rare condition where swallowing triggered her heart to stop beating multiple times daily, causing fainting episodes.
- An experimental procedure called cardioneuroablation, which targets nerve tissue on the heart's surface, has shown promising results in reducing fainting episodes in 25 patients, including Hall.
- The procedure involves using radio-frequency energy to destroy overactive nerve tissue, potentially offering a better alternative to pacemakers, which require battery replacements and carry long-term risks.
- While early findings from the study at Imperial College London are encouraging, experts emphasize the need for larger, longer-term studies to confirm the treatment's durability and identify ideal candidates.
- Patients like Hall have experienced significant improvements in quality of life, with some reporting no fainting episodes after the treatment, highlighting the potential impact of this innovative therapy.