HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Mark J. Russo Michael Argenziano Mehmet C. Oz Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Williams, M. R. Articles by Oz, M. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Williams, M. R. Articles by Oz, M. C. Related Collections Electrophysiology - arrhythmias Related Article

Ann Thorac Surg 2006;82:2260-2264
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

New Technology

Laser Energy Source in Surgical Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Preclinical Experience

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York

Accepted for publication April 7, 2006.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Williams, Surgical Arrhythmia Program, 177 Ft Washington Ave, MHB 7-435, New York, NY 10032. (Email: mw365{at}columbia.edu).

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate diffusing tip laser energy in surgical atrial fibrillation ablation using a canine model. This is the first report to describe the pathological and histological findings using a laser energy source.

DESCRIPTION: The surgical atrial fibrillation ablation procedure was performed through a left atriotomy; the pulmonary veins were encircled in 16 dogs using a diode laser (980 nm) with a diffusing tip that permits linear ablation perpendicular to the fiber direction. Lesion durations were 45 seconds with a power density of 3.8 or 4.5 W/cm. Six animals were allowed to survive 4 hours after the procedure, with the remainder sacrificed at 1 week (n = 1), 4 weeks (n = 3), and 6 weeks (n = 6). Electrophysiologic effectiveness was judged using unipolar or bipolar pacing from the pulmonary veins after attempting isolation. Hearts were harvested for histologic examination using standard trichrome staining.

EVALUATION: All animals tolerated the procedure. The animals required an average of 5.6 ± 0.82 lesions to complete the procedure. All animals had confirmed isolation of the pulmonary veins as judged by unipolar or bipolar pacing, and this isolation persisted in those animals that were allowed to survive. Pathology revealed all lesions to be transmural with an average tissue thickness of 3.62 ± 1.50 mm (range, 0.95 mm to 7.06 mm).

CONCLUSIONS: Diffusing tip laser technology reproducibly makes rapid, transmural, and electrophysiologically effective atrial lesions.

Related Article

Invited commentary

Adam E. Saltman
Ann. Thorac. Surg. 2006 82: 2264. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. A. Groh, O. A. Binns, H. G. Burton III, G. L. Champsaur, S. W. Ely, and A. M. Johnson Epicardial Ultrasonic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation During Concomitant Cardiac Surgery Is a Valid Option in Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease Circulation, September 30, 2008; 118(14_suppl_1): S78 - S82. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Groh, O. A. Binns, H. G. Burton III, S. W. Ely, and A. M. Johnson Ultrasonic Cardiac Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation During Concomitant Cardiac Surgery: Long-Term Clinical Outcomes Ann. Thorac. Surg., December 1, 2007; 84(6): 1978 - 1983. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Saltman Invited commentary Ann. Thorac. Surg., December 1, 2006; 82(6): 2264 - 2264. [Full Text] [PDF]