Thermotolerance does not reduce the size or remodeling of radiofrequency lesions in the rat myocardium.

Purpose: Late lesion extension may be involved in the genesis of delayed radiofrequency (RF) effects. Because RF lesion is thermally mediated, we hypothesized that induction of heat shock response (thermotolerance) would modulate lesion healing. We evaluated the effects of thermotolerance on the dimensions and remodeling of RF lesions in a rat model of heart failure.

Impact of prophylactic corticosteroids on systemic inflammation after extensive atrial ablation in pigs.

Aims: Prophylactic corticosteroids have been reported to attenuate the increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) and the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) both after heart surgery and AF ablation. We tested the impact of a single prophylactic corticosteroid dose on ultrasensitive CRP 24 h and 14 days after extensive linear atrial ablation (8 mm or 3.5 irrigated tip) guided by electroanatomical mapping (NavX) in pigs with normal hearts.