The EmBlocker: efficiency of a new ultrasonic embolic protection device adjunctive to heart valve surgery.

Purpose: Perioperative cerebral microemboli in cardiac surgery are associated with postoperative neurologic complications. The EmBlocker (Neurosonix Ltd, Rehovot, Israel), a newly developed device should be positioned against the ascending aorta, and it produces an ultrasonic force expected to divert microemboli away from the cerebral vasculature and reduce cerebral emboli.

Description: Twenty-one consecutive patients, undergoing a valve procedure, were enrolled into this nonrandomized pilot study.

Transcranial measurement of cerebral microembolic signals during endocardial pulmonary vein isolation: comparison of three different ablation techniques.

Introduction: Isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVI) using high ablation energy is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) with a success rate of 50-95%; however, postoperative neurological complications still occur in 0.5-10%. In this study the incidence of cerebral microembolic signals (MES) as a risk factor for neurological complications is examined during 3 percutaneous endocardial ablation procedure strategies: segmental PVI using a conventional radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter, segmental PVI using an irrigated RF tip catheter, and circumferential PVI with a cryoballoon catheter (CB).

Endoscopic mitral and tricuspid valve surgery after previous cardiac surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a right video-assisted approach for atrioventricular valve disease after previous cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: Between December 1st 1997 and May 1st 2006, 80 adults (mean age 65+/-12 years; 56% female) underwent reoperative surgery using a video-assisted approach without rib spreading. Previous cardiac operations included mitral valve (39%), CABG (29%), congenital (10%), and other (23%).

Treatment of lone atrial fibrillation with a right thoracoscopic approach.

A simplified technique to treat patients in stand-alone atrial fibrillation with a right thoracoscopic approach is described. An electrical isolation of the four pulmonary veins (box lesion) is achieved with a microwave antenna.

New ultrasonic radiation reduces cerebral emboli during extracorporeal circulation.

Objective: Cardiac surgery is associated with intraoperative cerebral emboli, which can result in postoperative neurological complications. A new ultrasonic transducer (EmBlocker) can be positioned on the ascending aorta and activation of the EmBlocker is expected to divert emboli to the descending aorta, thereby decreasing emboli in the cerebral arteries. In this preliminary animal study, safety and efficiency of this technology were examined.