An electrophysiologist relied on EnSite X for his AFib

Dr. Jun Kishihara diagnosed his own AFib with EnSite X before getting his heart back in rhythm with ablation.

At-a-glance:

  • As the Director of Medicine in the Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine at Kitasato University Hospital, Dr. Jun Kishihara, 45, knew the signs of Atrial fibrillation when he felt heart palpitations.
  • Just as he depends on Abbott’s EnSite X mapping system when he’s diagnosing his patients’ AFib, he counted on the system when he needed help getting his own heart back in rhythm.
  • Since his ablation procedure following Ensite X’s mapping, Dr. Kishihara says he hasn’t felt any palpitations, which gives him confidence to do the things he enjoys.

Abbott: What was your condition and diagnosis?

Jun Kishihara: In 2020, I suddenly felt palpitation late at night in the summertime. I thought this might be Atrial fibrillation. My house and my wife’s clinic — she’s also a doctor — is in the same building, so I went down downstairs to take the EKG. She said, “Oh, this is AFib.” After that, almost every night, I felt the palpitation for two months. So I asked my colleague to perform the catheter ablation.

Abbott: You might be the only Abbott patient who has their own EKG machine.

JK: (Laughs) Yes, I think so, too.

Dr. Kishihara serves as Director of Medicine in the Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine at Kitasato University Hospital.

Abbott: Why was using EnSite X important for your diagnosis?

JK: At our practice, we mostly use EnSite X as part of our AFib ablation procedures. At that time, we did not have any PFA (pulsed field ablation) technology. The shape of my pulmonary vein is not suitable for the cryo balloon ablation. So, I chose radio frequency ablation. We usually use the EnSite X system for the first session for atrial fibrillation rehabilitation. My Abbott colleague was very good at manipulating the 3D mapping system for the inside of my heart. You have the ablation catheter, with contact-force sensing. Contact force is very important in terms of safety during ablation. So, I decided to use EnSite X. That was my request.

Jun and his son, Ryu, goofing on the tennis court.

Abbott: How would you describe your life since your procedure?

JK: I haven’t felt palpitations anymore. Not one time. Zero. I have confidence to do everything, like playing tennis or drinking saki.

Abbott: You don’t do those at the same time, do you?

JK: (Laughs) No, no, not the same time.

Abbott: Has this experience changed your perspective at all?

JK: I am a doctor. I was also a patient. So, I truly understand what patients feel before, during, and after the procedure. I can tell them, “I’ve been there, and I know what you’re feeling, and I can help you through it.” That has been a big change for me and my life as a doctor. And with the EnSite X system helping during my ablation procedure, I trust it even more.

Abbott: What advice would you give to others living with Atrial fibrillation?

JK: It’s not a good thing, right? But we have many solutions, including the EnSite X system to help.

This testimonial relays an account of an individual’s response to the treatment. This patient's account is genuine, typical, and documented. However, it does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response other persons may have to the treatment. Responses to the treatment discussed can and do vary and are specific to the individual patient.

Jun and Ryu run past a rice field near their home in Japan.

Important safety information

EnSite™ X EP System

RX Only

Brief Summary: Prior to using these devices, please review the Instructions for Use for a complete listing of indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, potential adverse events, and directions for use.

United States: Required Safety Information

Indications: The EnSite™ X EP System is a suggested diagnostic tool in patients for whom electrophysiology studies have been indicated. The EnSite™ X EP System provides information about the electrical activity of the heart and displays catheter location during conventional electrophysiological (EP) procedures.

Warnings: For patient safety, any connections that directly connect the patient to the EnSite™ X EP System must be routed through the appropriate modules: EnSite™ X EP System SurfaceLink Module, EnSite™ X EP System 20 pin Catheter Input Module, EnSite™ X EP System 80-pin Catheter Input Module and Direct Connect Ports on the EnSite™ X EP System Amplifier. When using the EnSite™ X EP System, full protection against the effects of cardiac defibrillator discharge and other leakage currents is dependent upon the use of appropriate cables. The use of this device in conjunction with radio frequency ablation, as a part of the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, may pose an increased risk of adverse events such as cardiac perforation, myocardial infarction, air embolism, and hematoma requiring surgical repair and/or blood transfusion. Non-SE catheters cannot collect location data and should not be used for navigation in VoXel Mode because they do not have a magnetic sensor. However, they can be visualized and display intracardiac signals. Only connect items that have been specified as part of the EnSite™ X EP System or compatible with the EnSite™ X EP System to the multiple socket-outlets. The EnSite™ X EP System model display should be used in conjunction with conventional EP techniques to confirm catheter location. The AutoMark feature does not indicate lesion effectiveness. AutoMarks are placed based on user-defined parameters for catheter stability and RF metrics only. Sudden impedance changes of the body or catheter electrodes caused by the connection of other devices (e.g., stimulator, defibrillator, and other devices) may create a location shift.

Precautions: Ensure that surface electrodes, Patient Reference Sensors, and associated connectors do not contact one another, electrical ground, or metallic objects. EnSite™ X EP System components should be connected to power through an isolation transformer or the multiple socket outlet supplied with the system carts. Connecting equipment directly to a wall outlet may result in excessive leakage current. Do not operate the EnSite™ X EP System Field Frame within 10 m of another operating Field Frame. Do not place the EnSite™ X EP System Field Frame Cable inside the measurement volume or wrap it around the EnSite™ X EP System Field Frame, as it may create a magnetic interference. Metallic equipment used in close proximity to the magnetic field during the procedure, such as a sterile drape holder, may cause metal distortion. Do not place tool cables within 30 mm of the EnSite™ X EP System Field Frame Cable. If placed this close-particularly if the cables are parallel to each other the tool cable may become subject to electromagnetic interference. Do not use the EnSite™ X EP System in the presence of other magnetic fields. Do not drop the EnSite™ X EP System Field Frame or subject it to impact. Physical damage to the EnSite™ X EP System Field Frame may alter the EnSite™ X EP System Field Frame’s factory calibration.

MAT-2407973 v2.0

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