Premium
Transvenous Catheter Ice Mapping and Cryoablation of the Atrioventricular Node in Dogs
Author(s) -
DUBUC MARC,
ROY DENIS,
THIBAULT BERNARD,
DUCHARME ANIQUE,
TARDIF JEANCLAUDE,
VILLEMAIRE CHRISTINE,
LEUNG TACKKI,
TALAJIC MARIO
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1999.tb00353.x
Subject(s) - cryoablation , medicine , ablation , catheter , catheter ablation , cryosurgery , atrioventricular node , node (physics) , surgery , biomedical engineering , anesthesia , tachycardia , structural engineering , engineering
While radiofrequency catheter ablation is very effective, it does not allow for prediction of success prior to full delivery of the energy. We investigated the use of cryoablation using a new catheter on the AV node to determine (1) if a successful site might be identified prior to the ablation itself, and (2) the parameters of cryoablation of the AV node using a new cryocatheter. In eight dogs, the cryoablation catheter was advanced to the AV node to produce transient high degree AV block by lowering the temperature to a minimum of −40°C (ice mapping). Transient high degree AV node block was obtained in seven of eight animals at a mean temperature of −39.9 ± 11.6°C. No significant pathological modification was found in all animals but one and, in all cases, electrophysiological parameters of the A V node measured before, 20 minutes, 60 minutes, and up to 56 days after cryoapplication were not significantly different. In the 12 other dogs, after ice mapping, cryoablation of the A V node was attempted with a single freeze‐thaw cycle in 6 dogs (group 1) and a double freeze‐thaw cycle in the other 6 dogs (group II). Chronic complete AV block was obtained in only one animal in group I compared to all animals in group II. Ablation of the A V node is effective with a double freeze‐thaw cycle using a percutaneous catheter cryoablation system. Ice mapping of the area allows for identification of the targeted site.