title: Transcatheter radiofrequency ablation in the canine right atrium.
abstract: The feasibility of using radiofrequency energy for potential ablation of atrial tachycardia foci was assessed by performing transcatheter ablation in the right atrium in 11 closed-chest dogs.  Single-pulsed radiofrequency (750 kHz) energy was delivered to the right atrium (29-254 J) between the tip electrode of a standard 6 Fr quadripolar catheter and a chest patch electrode.  There were no significant arrhythmias or complications noted.  Dogs were sacrificed 0-29 days after ablation to assess acute and subacute effects of this technique. Of 47 attempted ablations, 36 well-delineated coagulative lesions were identified.  The lesions had a mean dimension of 5.2 +/- 0.57 mm (+/- SE) in length, 3.9 +/- 0.27 mm in width, and 2.6 +/- 0.17 mm in depth. Transmural necrosis was noted in 6 of 36 lesions (17%) without perforation.  A thin layer of mural thrombus was found in 5 of 36 lesions (14%).  Thus, this technique appears to be feasible and relatively safe for right atrial ablations in a short-term follow-up period.  The potential application of this method to ablate right atrial tachycardia foci needs to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Tucson Veterans Administration Medical Center, Arizona.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bharati
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D013612:Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*