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Insights into Energy Delivery to Myocardial Tissue during Radiofrequency Ablation through Application of the First Law of Thermodynamics
Author(s) -
BUNCH T. JARED,
DAY JOHN D.,
PACKER DOUGLAS L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2008.01384.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ablation , catheter ablation , atrial fibrillation , radiofrequency ablation , second law of thermodynamics , cardiology , thermodynamics , physics
The approach to catheter‐based radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation has evolved, and as a consequence, more energy is delivered in the posterior left atrium, exposing neighboring tissue to untoward thermal injury. Simultaneously, catheter technology has advanced to allow more efficient energy delivery into the myocardium, which compounds the likelihood of collateral injury. This review focuses on the basic principles of thermodynamics as they apply to energy delivery during radiofrequency ablation. These principles can be used to titrate energy delivery and plan ablative approaches in an effort to minimize complications during the procedure.