Support adapter for radiofrequency ablation probe: experimental study.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the present study was to experimentally evaluate a new support adapter, which was created in order to insure a more complete contact between the ablation probe and a beating heart.


METHODS
Support sleeve adapters for the Cobra Cooled probe were fashioned using a semi-rigid plastic. Forty epicardial radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesions were created on both atria under the condition of a beating heart in six pigs weighing 26-30 kg. A Cobra Cooled surgical probe was used with continuous internal irrigation of a saline solution (500 mL/h). The ablation temperature was fixed at 80 degrees C and the duration of the RFA in each case was 20, 30 and 60 s.


RESULTS
A support adapter ensured a more complete epicardial contact between the probe and a beating heart. An RFA probe supported by the adapter delivered greater power to the tissue. The histopathological transmural coagulation was obtained in 82% and 72% in RFA lesions with and without the adaptor, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A new adapter was effective in the epicardial RFA under the condition of a beating heart.
Ishikawa
Susumu
S
Second Department of Surgery, Gunma University Faculty of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan. skyishikawa@cronos.ocn.ne.jp
Oki
Shigeru
S
Muraoka
Masato
M
Kashiwabara
Kenji
K
Morishita
Yasuo
Y
D000818:Animals; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D023421:Models, Animal; D013552:Swine