Off-Pump Epicardial Atrial Fibrillation Surgery Utilizing a Novel Bipolar Radiofrequency System (original) (raw)

The Heart Surgery Forum, 2006

Abstract

Over the past several years, pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation has gained significant popularity. This study was undertaken to evaluate a novel radiofrequency (RF)-enabled clamp system designed to create transmural lesions epicardially on the beating heart using bipolar RF. A set of differently shaped clamps modified to deliver bipolar RF energy were used to create a series of lesions in a beating heart canine model. The pulmonary veins and atrial appendages of 6 dogs were electrically isolated using bipolar RF energy. The right and left atrial appendages served as controls for the right and left pulmonary veins, respectively. Temperature-controlled RF energy was delivered to maintain a tissue temperature of 80 degrees C for 15 seconds. Electrical isolation was assessed acutely and after 4 weeks by a bipolar pacing protocol. A total of 24 circumferential lesions were created. By pacing analysis, 100% (24/24) of these lesions were electrically isolated acutely and 95% (19/20) were still isolated 4 weeks later. At 4 weeks, 92% (22/24) of lesions were transmural by histologic analysis, and 96% (23/24) demonstrated endocardial continuity. One animal experienced a fatal cardiac arrhythmia during initiation of the post-survival procedure, prior to electrophysiologic evaluation, accounting for the reduced number of potential electrically isolated lesions. Bipolar RF ablation utilizing a novel bipolar RF clamp device results in electrical isolation and histologic transmurality in an off-pump epicardial model.

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