10.15.13
AtriCure Inc. is partnering with leading atrial fibrillation (Afib) centers and thought leaders throughout Europe to provide best-in-class training on surgical ablation.
The Netherlands-based firm has launched an international Maze IV Training program in Germany at Sana Stuttgart Cardiac Surgery Center, one of six initial European hospitals selected to participate in the training initiative. This first course was led earlier this month by surgeons who are considered experts in the surgical treatment of Afib, including:
"This is an extremely important initiative to ensure that patients who are eligible for the Maze IV procedure receive it if they are undergoing another heart procedure,” said Weimar. “It is a proven low risk, high cure procedure. If more surgeons were trained on the proper technique, we could make a significant impact in the incidence of Afib among our patients.”
As part of this initiative, AtriCure has formed a Maze IV European Educational Steering Committee to include luminaries in the area of surgical Afib ablation from the following centers: OLVG Amsterdam, UZ Leuven Belgium; Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; San Rafaelle University Hospital, Milan, Italy; and The Royal College of Surgeons, London, England.
“By increasing awareness and treatment, this program will launch a greater effort and serve as a model for other programs we have underway in a number of centers internationally,” said Doll. “Along with AtriCure, we aim to curb the potentially devastating physical and emotional impact Afib can have on families, and the financial burden on society.”
Afib is the most common diagnosed arrhythmia, impacting 9.6 million Europeans, according to AtriCure. People over the age of 40 have a one in four chance of developing Afib in their lifetime, while those with Afib have a 500 percent greater risk of stroke, heart failure and reduced quality of life than the general population.
“We are committed to reducing the global Afib epidemic and healing the lives of those affected,” AtriCure President/CEO Michael Carrel said. “This initiative is part of our core investment in education and clinical science to bring better treatment options to patients in more parts of the world.”
AtriCure, Inc. is an atrial fibrillation solutions partner, providing innovative products, professional education and support for clinical science to reduce the economic and social burden of atrial fibrillation. AtriCure's Synergy Ablation System is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the surgical treatment of Persistent and Longstanding Persistent forms of Afib in patients undergoing certain open heart procedures simultaneously.
Afib affects more than 2 million people worldwide and is estimated to cost more than $6.5 billion annually in healthcare expenses, according to industry estimates. The number affected by Afib is expected to grow to 12 million by 2050.
The Netherlands-based firm has launched an international Maze IV Training program in Germany at Sana Stuttgart Cardiac Surgery Center, one of six initial European hospitals selected to participate in the training initiative. This first course was led earlier this month by surgeons who are considered experts in the surgical treatment of Afib, including:
- --- James L. Cox, M.D., professor of cardiac surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. (U.S.) Cox is recognized as the innovator of the Maze procedure and is primarily responsible for its origins in cardiac surgery;
- Kai-Nicolas Doll, M.D., chief of cardiac surgery at Sana Cardiac Surgery Center in Stuttgart, Germany; and
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Timo Weimar, M.D., cardiac surgeon at Sana Cardiac Surgery Center in Stuttgart, Germany, and international medical director of AtriCure.
"This is an extremely important initiative to ensure that patients who are eligible for the Maze IV procedure receive it if they are undergoing another heart procedure,” said Weimar. “It is a proven low risk, high cure procedure. If more surgeons were trained on the proper technique, we could make a significant impact in the incidence of Afib among our patients.”
As part of this initiative, AtriCure has formed a Maze IV European Educational Steering Committee to include luminaries in the area of surgical Afib ablation from the following centers: OLVG Amsterdam, UZ Leuven Belgium; Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; San Rafaelle University Hospital, Milan, Italy; and The Royal College of Surgeons, London, England.
“By increasing awareness and treatment, this program will launch a greater effort and serve as a model for other programs we have underway in a number of centers internationally,” said Doll. “Along with AtriCure, we aim to curb the potentially devastating physical and emotional impact Afib can have on families, and the financial burden on society.”
Afib is the most common diagnosed arrhythmia, impacting 9.6 million Europeans, according to AtriCure. People over the age of 40 have a one in four chance of developing Afib in their lifetime, while those with Afib have a 500 percent greater risk of stroke, heart failure and reduced quality of life than the general population.
“We are committed to reducing the global Afib epidemic and healing the lives of those affected,” AtriCure President/CEO Michael Carrel said. “This initiative is part of our core investment in education and clinical science to bring better treatment options to patients in more parts of the world.”
AtriCure, Inc. is an atrial fibrillation solutions partner, providing innovative products, professional education and support for clinical science to reduce the economic and social burden of atrial fibrillation. AtriCure's Synergy Ablation System is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the surgical treatment of Persistent and Longstanding Persistent forms of Afib in patients undergoing certain open heart procedures simultaneously.
Afib affects more than 2 million people worldwide and is estimated to cost more than $6.5 billion annually in healthcare expenses, according to industry estimates. The number affected by Afib is expected to grow to 12 million by 2050.