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Surgical ablation devices for atrial fibrillation

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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The introduction of ablation technology has revolutionized the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). It has greatly simplified surgical approaches and has significantly increased the number of procedures being performed. Various energy sources have been used clinically, including cryoablation, radiofrequency, microwave, laser, and high-frequency ultrasound. The goal of these devices is to create conduction block to either block activation wavefronts or to isolate the triggers of AF. All present devices have been shown to have clinical efficacy in some patients. The devices each have their unique advantages and disadvantages. It is important that surgeons develop accurate dose-response curves for new devices in clinically relevant models on both the arrested and beating heart. This will allow the appropriate use of technology to facilitate AF surgery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Shelly C. Lall & Ralph J. Damiano Jr.

  2. Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Campus Box 8234, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Ralph J. Damiano Jr.

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  1. Shelly C. Lall
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  2. Ralph J. Damiano Jr.
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Correspondence to Ralph J. Damiano Jr..

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This work was supported by NIH grants 2RO1HL032257 and T32HL007776.

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Lall, S.C., Damiano, R.J. Surgical ablation devices for atrial fibrillation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 20, 73–82 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-007-9186-x

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