title: Alternative energy sources for surgical atrial ablation.
abstract: As less complex modifications of the Maze procedure have been developed, a number of energy sources have been introduced to facilitate the creation of electrically isolating lesions within the atria. These include cryoablation, radiofrequency, microwave, laser, and focused ultrasound. Although each of these sources works slightly differently, the goal of all thermal sources is to heat tissue to a temperature (50 degrees C) above which irreversible electrical isolation occurs. These sources have been utilized both endocardially in arrested heart procedures as well as epicardially in the beating heart setting. There are several obstacles to the use of these sources epicardially, mostly related to the heat sink effect of endocardial blood. Several recent modifications have been introduced that will hopefully increase the efficacy of these sources in beating heart applications.
authors.affiliation: Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Surgical Arrhythmia Program, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Mathew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.forename: Mehmet C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Oz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Argenziano
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008872:Microwaves; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery