Volume 15 Number 1 - Mahidol University

Activities
Ramathibodi Hospital Launches New Cure for Atrial Fibrillation in Asia
Prof. Rajata Rajatanavin (center), Dean, Faculty of Medicine
Ramathibodi Hospital, together with Assist. Prof. Khanchit Likittanasombat
(right corner), Assist. Prof. Suchart Chaiyaroj and Dr. Khanat Kruthakul
(left corner), recently announced success in operating cardiac arrhythmia
from Atrial Fibrillation (AF) with invasive endoscopy and electroanatomical
mapping of the atria with the CARTO system, the first of its kind in Asia.
There was also an official opening of the Cardiovascular Metabolic Center at
Ramathibodi Hospital (CVMC).
This technique has been used in the US for more than 10 years but is a new technique and the first successful treatment
in Southeast Asia. Under the technique, AF patients will have only a 1- 2 centimeter incision during the operation and the cost
is 10 times less that of overseas treatment.
AF is an abnormal heart rhythm that involves the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart. It is often asymptomatic, and
is not in itself generally life-threatening, but may result in palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure. Patients
with AF are at a significantly increased chance of stroke (about 2 to 7 times the regular population). Indeed, AF is a leading
cause of stroke.
Prof. Rajata reported that at present, heart disease is the second cause of death in Thailand, following HIV/AIDS.
Data from 2006 from the Ministry of Public Health reported that 328,195 people were heart disease patients and about 40,000
persons per year died of heart disease, or a rate of 4 deaths per hour. Worldwide, 107.5 million people per year die of heart
disease, and in developing countries including Thailand there is a continual increase in the number of heart disease patients. In
the US, it is estimated that 0.4 percent of the total population have AF.
Assist. Prof. Khanchit Likittanasombat noted that cardiac arrhythmias (heart rhythm problems) can be divided into two
general types: those that make the heart rhythm too slow and those that make the heart rhythm too rapid. AF is usually seen in
older patients who have other types of cardiovascular disease. In addition to palpitations, AF produces a risk of blood clots that
can lead to stroke.
The CVMC will serve an increasing amount of AF patients. Treatment can be made with Radiofrequency Ablation
using the electro-anatomical CARTO system, a leading-edge three-dimensional navigational system, by operation with a maze
procedure, or with a minimally invasive approach.
Mahidol to Host the 6 th QS APPLE (continued from page one)
world-class standards by creating understanding among
academic staff, administrators and supportive staff. The quality
development of teaching and learning systems and continued
development of various education support systems have been
emphasized and are being carried out at present.
Mahidol University is greatly honored not only to
benefit from these lectures by QS specialists at the Faculty of
Science but also to have been chosen to host the 6 th QS
APPLE, a yearly event, in 2010. The conference and
exhibition will be held in Thailand for the first time, while
previous events were organized by universities in Malaysia,
Singapore, and Hong Kong. This year, the QS APPLE
conference and exhibition will be held at Yonsei University in
Korea and Malaysia will host the event in 2009.
Clin. Prof. Piyasakol noted that Mahidol is a higher
education institute in the Asia-Pacific region which recognizes
the importance of promoting international education, adding
‘we hope that there will be about 1,000 university administrators
from the Asia-Pacific, Europe, America, and Australasia
participating in this event’.
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SPECTRUM
MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY