Rapid loading of sotalol or amiodarone for management of recent onset symptomatic atrial fibrillation: a randomized, digoxin-controlled trial.

Background: Amiodarone and sotalol are commonly used for the maintenance of sinus rhythm, but the efficacy of these agents administered as high-dose infusions for rapid conversion of atrial fibrillation is unknown. Use in this context would facilitate drug initiation in patients in whom ongoing prophylactic therapy is indicated.

Methods: We assessed the efficacy and safety of rapid high-dose intravenous infusions of amiodarone and sotalol for heart rate control and rapid reversion to sinus rhythm in patients who came to the emergency department with recent-onset symptomatic atrial fibrillation.

Analysis of a novel expanded tip wire (ETW) antenna for microwave ablation of cardiac arrhythmias.

A novel expanded tip wire (ETW) catheter antenna is proposed for microwave ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The antenna is designed as an integral part of coaxial cable so that it can be inserted via a 6F catheter. A numerical model based on the rotationally symmetric finite-difference time-domain technique incorporating the generalized perfectly matched layer as the absorbing boundary condition has been utilized to accurately model the interaction between the antenna and the myocardium.

Increasing power versus duration for radiofrequency ablation with a high superfusate flow: implications for pulmonary vein ablation?

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of pulmonary veins (PVs) is a new treatment for atrial fibrillation. Low energy ablation is usually used for this procedure. The effect of superfusate flow on lesion formation in this setting has not been studied previously.

Comparison of epicardial and endocardial linear ablation using handheld probes.

Background: The optimal technique for producing linear radiofrequency thermal lesions in myocardial tissue is unclear. We compared epicardial ablation on the beating heart with endocardial ablation after cardioplegia.

Methods: Radiofrequency lesions were produced using a multielectrode malleable handheld probe in ovine myocardium with three wall thicknesses.