Baylis Medical and Siemens Healthineers co-sponsor physician training for state-of-the art, minimally invasive heart procedure

TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Baylis Medical Company Inc. and Siemens Healthineers are co-sponsoring a first-of-its kind training program aimed at helping cardiologists perform a complex procedure that is quickly becoming the gold standard for treating patients with atrial fibrillation and other structural heart diseases.

The two companies are working with a network of highly respected physicians to offer the Baylis Education Hands-On Transseptal Course. This hands-on training program was launched in response to the growing need for minimally invasive procedures that require access to the left side of the heart. For example, a transseptal puncture through the septum is a standard procedure for accessing the left atrium.

"There has been a huge growth in left-side structural procedures which all require very precise transseptal access, yet many interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons haven't had the opportunity to learn transseptal techniques," says instructor Dr. Brijeshwar Maini, interventional cardiologist and regional medical director of transcatheter therapies for Tenet Healthcare's Florida Region. "Our first course got very positive feedback from physicians. They recognize the importance in gaining experience with the best available tools to ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients."

Interventional cardiologists – specialized physicians who provide catheter-based treatment of various heart diseases – have previously used a sharp mechanical needle to access the left side of the heart, which has been demonstrated in comparative clinical studies to be more time-consuming and have a higher risk of complications, such as cardiac tamponade, relative to using a radiofrequency needle.ⁱ Procedural complications may result in longer hospital stays and higher per-patient costs. Published studies have found that the Baylis Radiofrequency NRG® Transseptal Needle Transseptal RF solution, which uses a short and highly focused RF energy pulse, allows a puncture that is more predictable and has the potential to minimize complications.ⁱⁱ

The combination of growing medical need coupled with the availability of smaller and more sophisticated cardiac implants is making catheter-based procedures more common. The new educational course offered by Baylis and Siemens Healthineers provides interventional cardiologists and surgeons with the skills they need to use more high-tech tools that provide greater precision and less risk in accessing the left atrium. The tools in this course include Baylis' NRG® Transseptal Needle and Siemens Healthineers ACUSON SC2000™ PRIME ultrasound system.

"Patients suffering with atrial fibrillation or structural heart disease traditionally had to undergo high-risk open-heart surgeries," says Kris Shah, President of Baylis Medical. "Today, state-of-the-art technologies like the Baylis RF Transseptal solution enable targeted and precise access to the left atrium. Such minimally invasive procedures typically result in lower risk to the patient, less trauma and a faster recovery."

Interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons are also increasingly relying on visualization tools to accurately guide catheters and implants within the beating heart.

"We are pleased to join with Baylis Medical in co-sponsoring training in such a rapidly growing medical segment where precise guidance is key," says Peter Pellerito, Senior Vice President, Ultrasound North America, Siemens Healthineers. "Siemens Healthineers ACUSON SC2000 PRIME TEE and ICE tools offer ultrasound images that help make complex transseptal structural heart procedures straightforward. Physicians attending the course are able to use tools such as real-time septal guidance for more precise septal crossing and better outcomes. As more physicians gain experience in interpreting these images, we could see these innovative procedures replacing the majority of open-heart surgeries in the years ahead."

Baylis and Siemens Healthineers sponsored the first joint course this past spring in Atlanta, GA. Based on positive feedback from participants, the companies partnered to offer the course in other U.S. cities.

About Baylis Medical Company

Baylis Medical develops and markets high-technology medical devices used in the fields of interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, and spinal procedures. Our vision is to develop and market innovative medical therapies while improving the lives of people around the world. The company has offices in Montreal and Toronto (Canada), Boston (U.S.), London (U.K.) and Munich (Germany).  For more information, visit www.baylismedical.com. 

About Siemens Healthineers

Siemens Healthineers is the separately managed healthcare business of Siemens AG enabling healthcare providers worldwide to meet their current challenges and to excel in their respective environments. A leader in medical technology, Siemens Healthineers is constantly innovating its portfolio of products and services in its core areas of diagnostic and therapeutic imaging and in laboratory diagnostics and molecular medicine. Siemens Healthineers is also actively developing its digital health services and enterprise services. To help customers succeed in today's dynamic healthcare marketplace, Siemens Healthineers is championing new business models that maximize opportunity and minimize risk for healthcare providers. In fiscal 2016, which ended on September 30, 2016, Siemens Healthineers generated revenue of €13.5 billion and profit of over €2.3 billion and has about 46,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com/healthineers.

SOURCE Baylis Médical