Central Illinois woman first patient in Illinois to undergo groundbreaking procedure for irregular heartbeat at Prairie Cardiovascular

Carolyn Burk and her son Mark

     A 75-year-old woman from Watson, Illinois, who has suffered with atrial
fibrillation (AFib) since she was a teenager is the first patient in Illinois to receive a groundbreaking
procedure performed by Dr. Bharath Rajagopalan of Prairie Cardiovascular.
     Carolyn Burk said she has noticed no AFib symptoms, has experienced at least a 75% improvement
in her health, and has been able to stop taking AFib medication since recently undergoing the
innovative procedure for her irregular heartbeat.
     “I feel this procedure has given me a new lease on life,” she said. “I was afraid I would have either a
stroke or a major heart problem since heart conditions run in my family.”
     Burk’s surgery could not have come at a better time. She has a monitor implanted in her chest to keep
a close eye on her heart, which Dr. Rajagopalan’s team remotely observes. They immediately called
her when the monitor alerted them of uncontrolled AFib episodes and multiple pauses of her heart. A
few days later, she was in surgery.
     AFib occurs when the heart’s electrical signals become erratic, causing the heart to beat extremely
fast and irregular. Blood clots may form, leading to a stroke, or heart failure may occur. The condition
is on the rise in the United States, with the American Heart Association reporting that affected
individuals are five times more likely to have a stroke.
     Dr. Rajagopalan noted Abbott’s Volt ™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System is the latest technology
using PFA – short, rapid pulses of electricity – to precisely map, target and destroy small portions of
heart tissue contributing to the irregular heart rhythm. The traditional method of thermal ablation uses
heat or extreme cold to destroy the problem tissue and risks damaging nearby healthy tissue and
other vital organs. The Volt procedure also allows eligible patients to forgo general anesthesia and opt
for sedation – using medications to relax and block pain while the patient remains comfortable for the
surgery without the added risks of general anesthesia.
     “I’m grateful I could perform this innovative procedure to help Carolyn feel better,” said Dr.
Rajagopalan. “Our mission at Prairie Cardiovascular is to offer the latest cutting-edge technology right
here in central Illinois to serve our patients and help them to live better lives.”
     Burk praised Dr. Rajagopalan’s expertise and compassion.
     “He listens and takes the time to explain everything,” Burk said. “He gave me hope.”
     Her recent AFib surgery was not Burk’s first with Prairie Cardiovascular. She had a previous
traditional ablation 20 years ago. She is hopeful the new procedure helps others.
     “It will be great for anyone else who has this problem,” Burk said.
     To learn more about the doctors of Prairie Cardiovascular, call 888-4PRAIRIE or visit hshs.org/heart.
###
About Prairie Cardiovascular
Prairie Cardiovascular is dedicated to delivering innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technology to
patients as the largest group of nationally recognized cardiologists in the Midwest, with nearly 100 providers
serving in 30 clinic sites throughout Central and Southern Illinois. In addition, the Prairie Education and
Research Consortium (PERC) offers network hospitals access to drugs and treatments not widely available.