04.13.2010
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center Successfully Treats NBA Player, Fabricio Oberto, for Atrial Fibrillation
Oberto—a Washington Wizards Basketball Player and Former Member of the San Antonio Spurs—Is Now Symptom-Free
In June 2010, nearly one year after undergoing a cardiac procedure to treat Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib) at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David’s Medical Center, Fabricio Oberto—a Washington Wizards basketball player and former member of the San Antonio Spurs— will no longer need to wear an electrocardiography monitor to track his heart rhythm.
Oberto, 35, was diagnosed with A Fib in 2008, and was treated by Andrea Natale, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.H.R.S, electrophysiologist and executive medical director of TCAI, on June 5, 2009. A Fib is a common and potentially life-threatening heart arrhythmia affecting about 2.2 million people in the United States.
“I first began to notice the symptoms of A Fib in early 2007,” Oberto, who was 34 years old at the time of his procedure, said. “I would feel out of breath when I was working out even though I am in good physical shape. My heart would also feel funny, like it was out of rhythm. Then one night I woke up and my heart was racing, beating about 214 beats per minute.”
If left untreated, A Fib can lead to congestive heart failure or stroke.
“At first, I went through electroshock therapy to try to alleviate the symptoms,” Oberto said. “After that, I was put on medication to treat my condition. However, the medicine kept me from playing basketball because it made me feel extremely dizzy, causing me to miss several games.”
After receiving multiple referrals to see Dr. Natale, Oberto traveled to Austin for an appointment. In June 2009, Dr. Natale performed cardiac ablation on Oberto. Ablation involves scarring, or destroying, heart tissue that blocks the electrical signal, allowing the heart to beat normally again.
“Cardiac ablation is a highly effective way to treat A Fib permanently, without medication,” Dr. Natale said. “Ablation is a long-term solution that has helped countless patients return to their normal lives without symptoms.”
Since his procedure, Oberto has played the majority of his games with the monitor connected to his chest, via wires and patches, for seven days at a time to monitor his heartbeat. Oberto, who has no family history of heart disease or heart arrhythmias, is now symptom-free.
“I am thankful for Dr. Natale and his team for giving me the chance to continue doing what I love—playing basketball,” Oberto said. “For me, the decision to have this procedure was an easy one, especially since I have a physician I can trust. Ongoing support by the staff at TCAI has also made my recovery simple.”
Dr. Natale says Oberto, who has been playing basketball for the NBA for five years, will likely not need any additional surgeries.
TCAI is one of the world’s most comprehensive centers dedicated to the latest treatment advances for correcting A Fib. It is led by Dr. Andrea Natale, a world-renowned expert on abnormal heart rhythms such as A Fib. Natale is at the forefront of the advancement of treatment for A Fib, leading numerous clinical trials and participating in the development of new technologies and procedures.
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center (TCAI) is one of the world’s preeminent centers dedicated to the latest treatment advances for correcting abnormal heart rhythms such as Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib). The center is led by Executive Medical Director Andrea Natale, M.D., a world-renowned expert in the field. Natale is at the forefront of advancing treatment for A Fib, leading numerous clinical trials and participating in the development of new technologies and procedures.
TCAI is a partnership between St. David’s HealthCare and Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia, a division of Texas Cardiovascular Consultants. TCAI is located near downtown Austin at 919 East 32nd Street. For more information, please visit TCAInstitute.com.
St. David’s Medical Center
Founded in 1924, St. David’s Medical Center is the flagship hospital of St. David’s HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas. Located within minutes of Downtown Austin, at 919 East 32nd Street off of IH35, St. David's Medical Center includes a 347-bed, acute care hospital, and a dedicated 64-bed Rehabilitation Hospital providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. St. David's Medical Center is home to the renowned NeuroTexas Institute, (including the TIA Center for Stroke Prevention and designation as a Primary Stroke Center); the acclaimed Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute; high-level women’s services with Level I, II and III nurseries; a Bariatric Center of Excellence; the Breast Center; orthopedic services; and a 24-hour emergency department. In 2010, St. David’s Medical Center was named a Top 100 Hospital by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.
