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Inova Heart and Vascular Institute Attracts World Renowned Physicians, Specialists for Summit on Atrial Fibrillation

November 8, 2007
Pioneer of Maze Procedure, Dr. James Cox, Patients to Meet

Falls Church, VA— On Friday, Nov. 16, world renowned physicians and specialists in the fields of cardiac surgery, cardiology and electrophysiology will gather in Falls Church, Virginia for a summit on treating atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that can increase the risk of stroke and lead to heart failure. The conference, “20 Years of Innovations in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: An Integrated Surgical & Electrophysiology Summit” will focus on the impact of atrial fibrillation on general health and current treatment options, and will include video case presentations and panel discussions.

WHAT:
Summit: 20 Years of Innovations   
in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation    

WHEN:
Friday, Nov. 16          
7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.       
          
WHERE: 
Fairview Park Marriott
3111 Fairview Park Drive 
Falls Church, VA         

    “We’ve put together an exceptional group of experts from the nation’s top hospitals who are leading the way in the treatment of atrial fibrillation,” said Niv Ad, MD, director, Cardiac Surgery Research, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, and program director of the summit. “Since the Maze procedure was first performed 20 years ago, there have been major developments in treating atrial fibrillation and this conference gives us the opportunity to educate those in the medical community about the latest methods and technologies.”
    “We find that patients often struggle with medications that either don’t work or stop working suddenly,” said Ted Friehling, MD, director, Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratories, Inova Fairfax Hospital. “During the past two decades a number of novel ways to approach the treatment of atrial fibrillation have been developed, especially in the way of ablation techniques, and we’re proud to share this information with colleagues in order to help patients find relief.”
    Among the presenters is James L. Cox, MD, from the Washington University School of Medicine, who in 1987 developed and first performed the Maze procedure, a surgical treatment with a high cure rate which led the way for the development of the various treatment options for atrial fibrillation. During the Maze procedure, surgeons create a maze-like path by scarring the tissue with either extremely hot or cold temperatures in order to redirect the electrical impulses and restore a normal heart rhythm. 
    According to the American Heart Association, about 2.2 million Americans are affected by atrial fibrillation. A Chevy Chase, Maryland man who tried different medications underwent the Maze procedure last year and says Dr. Ad and the team at Inova gave him a “second life.” He says he’s now able to exercise and travel as he did in the past. This patient, along with about 100 other patients from the region will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Cox at a special reception on Thursday, Nov. 15, the evening before the conference.    
    During the past few years, the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute has become the site of one of the most active Maze surgical programs in the country, and the most active in the Washington, DC metro area. Through its Cardiac Surgery Research program, Inova has established a reliable clinical database and quality of life assessment program that allows physicians and researchers to track the progress of Maze surgery patients and their quality of life after the procedure. The Institute also offers the area’s largest electrophysiology program for children and adults.  
    For more information about atrial fibrillation, go to
www.inova.org/heart/atrial_fibrillation.jsp.

   Inova Health System is a not-for-profit health care system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services including emergency and urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova's mission is to improve the health of the diverse community we serve through excellence in patient care, education and research.