title: A new simplified method for laser sinus node modification without electrophysiological technique.
abstract: As the treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia, beta-adrenoreceptor blockade therapy is the most common method for pharmacological heart rate control, but it is occasionally limited by side effects of the drugs, especially in patients with cardiac dysfunction. On the other hand, cryoablation or surgical exclusion of the sinus node have not been accepted generally for their necessity of permanent pacemaker implantation. Modification of the sinus node function is a new method of nonpharmacological treatments, although the skillfull and troublesome technique is required. In this study, the efficacy and safety of laser sinus node modification without electrophysiological technique were investigated as a new simplified method. In six mongrel dogs, the laser-tissue interactions by epicardial Nd-YAG laser irradiation were investigated by measuring the diameter and the depth of the irradiated lesions. Laser irradiations were performed from the head to the tail on the sinus node areas directed only by terminal groove for the visual landmark without electrophysiological technique until about 25% decrease in heart rate occurred in other six open-chest dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kobe University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagiri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000601:surgery*