New lab for congenital heart defects opens in Montreal

MONTREAL – The Montreal Heart Institute has opened the first electrophysiology laboratory (EP Lab) equipped with robotic and magnetic navigation and dedicated to congenital heart diseases in Canada. Congenital heart diseases are cardiac malformations that affect approximately 1% of all Canadians.

“The implementation of this cutting edge technology is a major advance. Thanks to this new lab, we will be able to perform interventions to treat arrhythmia in patients presenting with the most complex forms of cardiac malformations”, says Dr. Paul Khairy (pictured).

“Arrhythmias are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality within this population. It was therefore crucial to have access to an efficient solution to treat these complex issues that cannot be adequately addressed with traditional techniques”, said Dr. Annie Dore, cardiologist and clinical director of the Congenital Heart Disease Centre.

The intervention aims at mitigating arrhythmia by destroying the responsible electric cells and thus restoring a normal cardiac rhythm.

“Thanks to the robotic and magnetic system, we can effectively and accurately guide catheters in a safe manner through complex anatomies caused by cardiac malformations. The first patients we treated with this new modality presented with serious forms of congenital heart diseases. A catheter ablation would not have been a viable option in those cases if it weren’t for the sophisticated functionalities this robotic magnetic navigation platform offers,” explains Dr. Khairy.

“This Canadian first will benefit not only Quebec patients and those hailing from other provinces, but it will also benefit patients from abroad,” adds Dr. Denis Roy, cardiologist and executive director of the Montreal Heart Institute.

A few decades ago, most children presenting with serious forms of congenital heart diseases died during childhood; today however, more than 90% survive until adulthood, which leads to a rapid increase in the patient population presenting with congenital heart diseases.

Thanks to this new robotic magnetic navigation platform, and combined with the expertise of its medical team, the Montreal Heart Institute is strengthening its international leadership position in the treatment of adult congenital heart diseases.

The construction of this highly sophisticated lab was made possible thanks to the support of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, St-Jude Medical, Dalfen Family Foundation and the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation.

About the Montreal Heart Institute

Founded in 1954 by Dr. Paul David, the Montreal Heart Institute constantly aims for the highest standards of excellence in the cardiovascular field through its leadership in clinical and basic research, ultra-specialized care, professional training and prevention. It is part of the broad network of health excellence made up of the Université de Montréal and its affiliated institutions. According to Research Infosource, the Montreal Heart Institute has been ranked the number one research hospital in Canada for research intensity and funding per researcher.

About the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation

The mission of the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation is to raise and administer funds to support the Institute’s priority and innovative projects and help its fight against cardiovascular disease, the number-one cause of death worldwide. Since its creation in 1977, the Foundation has donated nearly $218 million to the Montreal Heart Institute.