Performance of an Irrigated Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation Clamp on Explanted Human Hearts.

Background: Bipolar radiofrequency (RF) clamps are commonly used during surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). This study examined the efficacy of an irrigated bipolar RF clamp to create transmural lesions in an ex vivo human heart model.

Methods: Ten donor hearts, turned down for transplantation, were explanted and arrested with cold cardioplegia.

Efficacy of a Novel Bipolar Radiofrequency Clamp: An Acute Porcine Model.

Objective: Expert consensus guidelines recommend surgical ablation (SA) for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF), but less than half of patients with AF undergoing cardiac procedures receive concomitant SA. Complete isolation of the left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) has been shown to be the most critical part of the Cox maze procedure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of a novel radiofrequency (RF) bipolar device, EnCompass™ (AtriCure, Inc.