Clinical use of cooled radiofrequency ablation.
Irrigated (cooled) radiofrequency (RF) ablation has become our primary ablation tool for treating atrial fibrillation, macroreentrant atrial tachycardias, and scar-related ventricular tachycardias. As with any technology that increases ablation lesion size, there is the potential for increased risk. The methods described are a cautious approach to power titration that considers the risks of excessive heating and the lesion size needed for a particular site. Future methods of assessing lesion creation will hopefully refine energy titration to improve safety and efficacy of cooled RF ablation.
Vest
John A
JA
Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Seiler
Jens
J
Stevenson
William G
WG
D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*