Working On a Beating Heart - Accuracy

[Guest guest]

I have a few questions regarding the ablation proceedures.

How can can there be any accuracy in applying the ablation techniques

to a beating heart ? Isn't the area to be ablated moving when it is

beating ?

Are there also some problems with the tools available to the surgeon in

locating precisely the areas to ablate ?

With the mini-maze is there not some risk in making cuts on a moving

target ?

Perhaps my questions reflect my very limited understanding of the

surgical proceedures, however I would appreciate some clarification

and/or correction from those more knowledgeable.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/11/2006 7:27:01 AM Eastern Standard Time,

olarsen@... writes:

I have a few questions regarding the ablation procedures.

How can there be any accuracy in applying the ablation techniques

to a beating heart? Isn't the area to be ablated moving when it is

beating?

Are there also some problems with the tools available to the surgeon in

locating precisely the areas to ablate?

With the mini-maze is there not some risk in making cuts on a moving

target?

Perhaps my questions reflect my very limited understanding of the

surgical procedures, however I would appreciate some clarification

and/or correction from those more knowledgeable.

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To answer your questions I would first ask you to go to _www.affacts.org_

(http://www.affacts.org) the AF Foundation and click on Dr. Keanes Article.

This will give you some background on the procedure itself.

You ask some good questions. You are correct in your assumption that the

heart is beating during the PVA process. This is one of the reasons why it takes

so long to perform a PVA.

Another is the mapping of heart structures and foci. Then the ablating

itself begins. Another lengthy process.

But all of this is factored into the procedure. My PVA took eight hours,

some have been as little as four hours.

I have not heard of any problems with the tools or instruments an EP uses

for a PVA.

It comes down to the EP and his teams experience and expertise, computer

imaging, temperature probes, electrical sensors, the ablation energy source and

catheters. In most cases, the problem is centered in and around the pulmonary

veins (4) in the left atrium.

During the PVA process, the EP can induce AF and see where the rogue cells

(foci) are located.

The mini maze is similar to a PVA in that also use an energy source to

ablate. Radio frequency, microwave and I think cryo. During there process, all

is

done on the outside of the beating heart. The cardiothoracic surgeon has the

tools to accurately position catheters on the heart and apply energy. While

the heart is beating.

I hope this helps. This is a basic overview. There are books written about

the procedures.

Rich O

[Guest guest]

Hi

i have had nodal ablation done a couple of weeks ago and they

either burn the pathways away or freeze them i was awake through

the whole procedure they done it through my thigh all i felt was an

emptiness in my chest for a few hours this i am in my second week

of recovery and i have not had any AF at all the Surgeon said after two

weeks I should feel like a new woman i am 64 but my heart was

working that hard it was like it belonged to a woman of ninety

betty Boo

[Guest guest]

Steve, you ask good questions.

And I'm sorry that I can't answer them. All I can tell you is that I

had a successful ablation procedure with Dr. Natale. Not only was he

working on my beating heart, he was also working on my fibrillating

heart. I went into afib at some point, and he was unable to cardiovert

me. He went ahead with procedure, and I am one year, plus, in NSR.

>

> I have a few questions regarding the ablation proceedures.

>

> How can can there be any accuracy in applying the ablation techniques

> to a beating heart ? Isn't the area to be ablated moving when it is

> beating ?

>

> Are there also some problems with the tools available to the surgeon

in

> locating precisely the areas to ablate ?

>

> With the mini-maze is there not some risk in making cuts on a moving

> target ?

>

> Perhaps my questions reflect my very limited understanding of the

> surgical proceedures, however I would appreciate some clarification

> and/or correction from those more knowledgeable.

>