Scientists have developed a new method to find and treat problem areas in the heart using digital replicas of patients’ hearts. These “digital heart twins” are created on computers and can help doctors locate damaged parts of the heart muscle that cause dangerous heart rhythms.
This research could lead to safer and more effective treatments for people with heart rhythm disorders caused by heart attacks or inherited conditions.
The study, published in the journal Circulation, suggests that digital heart twins could replace some invasive procedures. Normally, doctors use catheters to map the heart and find scarred tissue causing abnormal rhythms.
This process can take hours and comes with risks, as it involves threading instruments into the heart and sometimes inducing the dangerous rhythms to identify their source. With a digital twin, doctors could pinpoint these areas in advance, making procedures quicker and less risky.
Dr. Michael Waight, a cardiologist at St. George’s University of London and the study’s lead author, explained that more people are living with long-term effects of heart attacks, increasing the need for these treatments.
However, current methods have limitations. Devices like defibrillators can stop abnormal rhythms when they happen, but they don’t prevent them from coming back.
On the other hand, a treatment called ablation, which burns scar tissue to stop it from disrupting the heart’s rhythm, is difficult because scar tissue can be hidden deep in the heart.
During the study, the researchers tested the digital twins on 18 patients with a condition called scar-dependent ventricular tachycardia (VT). This is a life-threatening heart rhythm caused by scar tissue from heart damage.
The team used advanced imaging and patient data to create 3D computer models of each heart. These models simulated how electrical signals moved through the heart, predicting where dangerous rhythms might start.
The researchers compared the predictions of the digital twins to maps of the patients’ hearts made during traditional procedures. They found that the digital twins were able to identify abnormal areas with 41% more accuracy than unflagged areas.
Additionally, the digital twins successfully predicted 80% of the sites where electrical signals slowed down, which is a sign of scar tissue. This means doctors could know where to target treatment before even entering the operating room.
By using digital heart twins, procedures could become faster and more precise, reducing the chances of complications and the need for repeated treatments.
The models can also predict future abnormal rhythms, helping doctors prepare for potential problems. “We can already have an idea of where to focus treatment before the patient even arrives,” Dr. Waight said.
However, more research is needed before digital twins can guide actual procedures. The next step is a clinical trial comparing the results of traditional ablation methods to those guided by digital twins. If successful, this technology could transform heart rhythm treatments, making them safer and more effective.
Experts in the field, like Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy from the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute, are excited about the potential of digital heart twins.
He believes this technology could save time, improve success rates, and reduce risks. However, creating digital twins is currently expensive, which might limit their widespread use.
This study highlights the potential of digital heart twins to improve outcomes for people with life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.
By offering a more targeted and less invasive way to treat these conditions, this approach could significantly improve patients’ quality of life and recovery. While challenges remain, the findings represent a major step forward in heart care.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
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The research findings can be found in Circulation.
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