Canine model of esophageal injury and atrial-esophageal fistula after applications of forward-firing high-intensity focused ultrasound and side-firing unfocused ultrasound in the left atrium and inside the pulmonary vein.

Background: Left atrial-esophageal fistula is a serious and poorly understood complication of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this study was to (1) develop a canine model of esophageal injury and left atrial-esophageal fistula after applications of forward-firing high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and side-firing unfocused ultrasound (SFU); (2) examine the relationship to esophageal temperature (Eso-temp); and (3) study the evolution of injury/healing.

Methods And Results: Twenty dogs were studied.

The utility of an evidence-based lecture and clinical prompt as methods to improve quality of care in colorectal cancer screening.

Objectives: Colorectal cancer screening can decrease both the incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, participation rates remain suboptimal. We assessed whether an evidence-based lecture or a written clinical prompt at the time of a patient visit would independently increase colorectal cancer screening rates in an internal medicine resident clinic.