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Production of narrow but deep lesions suitable for ablation of atrial fibrillation using a saline‐cooled narrow beam Nd:YAG laser catheter
Author(s) -
Thomas Stuart P.,
Guy Duncan J.R.,
Rees Arianwun,
Collins Lee,
Ross David L.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1065
Subject(s) - ablation , medicine , atrial fibrillation , lesion , saline , catheter ablation , catheter , radiofrequency ablation , laser ablation , laser , nuclear medicine , cardiology , surgery , optics , physics
Background and Objective Lines of radiofrequency ablation for cure of atrial fibrillation are broad, and the consequent loss of atrial mass may impair atrial function and contribute to the risk of stroke. We studied whether Nd:YAG laser could produce deep but narrower lesions. Study Design/Materials and Methods Laser lesions were made in ventricular myocardium of nonperfused ovine hearts and at thoracotomy in dogs. Results Lesions were well demarcated, deep, and narrow. Saline irrigation prevented crater formation for energy levels below 200 J. Lesion depth increased with increasing duration of ablation (maximum 5.3 ± 0.8mm, P < 0.01). The depth to width ratio was >1 in all cases (maximum 2.5 ± 1.6). The narrowest lesions were made by using high power, short duration of exposure, and intermittent delivery. Conclusions Irrigated Nd:YAG laser can be used to make deep narrow myocardial lesions without crater formation. Laser ablation may be more suitable than radiofrequency ablation for intraoperative or catheter‐based cure of atrial fibrillation. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:375–380, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.