No abstract available.
Catheter Ablation ; Catheters

No abstract available.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Catheter Ablation*

No abstract available.
Catheter Ablation ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: To determine the differences between sequential ablation with a single probe and simultaneous ablation with dual probes. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Using two 14-gauge expandable probes (nine internal prongs with 4-cm deployment), radiofrequency was applied sequentially (n=8) or simultaneously (n=8) to ten ex-vivo cow livers. Before starting ablation, two RF probes with an inter-probe space of 2 cm (n=8) or 3 cm (n=8) were inserted. In the sequential group, switching the connecting cable to an RF generator permitted ablation with the second probe just after ablation with the first probe had finished. In the simultaneous group, single ablation was performed only after connecting the shafts of both RF probes using a connection device. Each ablation lasted 7 minutes at a target temperature of 105-110 degrees C. The size and shape of the ablated area, and total ablation time were then compared between the two groups. RESULTS: With 2-cm spacing, the group, mean length and overlapping width of ablated lesions were, respectively, 5.20 and 5.05 cm in the sequential group (n=4), and 5.81 and 5.65 cm in the simultaneous group (n=4). With 3-cm spacing, the corresponding figures were 4.99 and 5.60 cm in the sequential group (n=4), and 6.04 and 6.78 cm in the simultaneous group (n=4). With 2-cm spacing, the mean depth of the proximal waist was 0.58 cm in the sequential (group and 0.28 cm in the simultaneous group, while with 3-cm spacing, the corresponding figures were 1.65 and 1.48 cm. In neither group was there a distal waist. Mean total ablation time was 23.4 minutes in the sequential group and 14 minutes in the simultaneous group. CONCLUSION: In terms of ablation size and ablation time, simultaneous radiofrequency ablation with dual probes is superior to sequential ablation with a single probe. A simultaneous approach will enable an operator to overcome difficulty in probe repositioning during overlapping ablations, resulting in complete ablation with a successful safety margin.
Catheter Ablation ; Liver

No abstract available.
Catheter Ablation* ; Catheters*

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of painful bone tumours and metastasis has quickly progressed from an experimental procedure to an established minimally invasive method for pain control. This review will describe the physics behind RF ablation technology. Osteoid osteomas were the first primary bone tumours to be treated in this manner, establishing RF ablation as the treatment modality of choice. A more recent development involves the use of RF ablation in painful bone metastases. In this setting, RF ablation complements radiation therapy. Its advantage lies in a more rapid onset of pain reduction (often at least by 2 points on a 10-point scale), and that radiation therapy can be employed concomittantly. It is important to remember that the aim of RF ablation in painful bone metastases is not curative, but palliation.
Catheter Ablation - Methods

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the recommended treatment of choice for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), whereas implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is recommended for patients at high risk for sudden death due to ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. Radiofrequency ablation has been proven to improve the quality of life of patients with SVT, whereas an ICD has been shown to reduce mortality among patients at risk for sudden cardiac death. Both procedures are expensive and usually beyond the reach of the average Filipino patient. OBJECTIVES: The objectives are to (1) determine the cost of hospitalization for cardiac arrhythmias that require RFA and cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in the Philippines, (2) propose revised Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefit packages for both procedures, and (3) determine the budget impact of the proposed revised packages. METHODS: Hospitalization costs were obtained for both RFA and cardioverter-defibrillator implantation from two government tertiary care hospitals. A range of hospitalization costs involving possible lower and higher cost scenarios was estimated. Based on these estimates and the yearly number of arrhythmias that require these procedures, revised benefit packages for both RFA and cardioverter-defibrillator implantation were proposed to PhilHealth. The budget impact analysis for the first 3 and 5 years of implementation of these revised packages was subsequently calculated. RESULTS: The estimated hospitalization costs for RFA ranged from Philippine pesos (PHP) 248,485 to 310,480, whereas for cardioverter-defibrillator implantation, the costs ranged from PHP 509,122 to 581,940. These amounts are greatly disparate from the present PhilHealth coverages, which are PHP 9700 and 18,000 for RFA and cardioverter-defibrillator implantation, respectively. Based on these hospitalization costs, the proposed RFA benefit package is PHP 275,000 to 310,000, whereas for an ICD benefit package, PHP 513,000 to 576,000 is proposed. The incremental cost of more than PHP 300 million for RFA and more than PHP 700 million for an ICD is distributed for the next 3 or 5 years of implementation for these benefit packages, respectively. CONCLUSION The present PhilHealth case rates for both RFA and cardioverter-defibrillator implantation are greatly underestimated, which probably is the reason for their underutilization. There is a need to revise these case rates with due consideration of their actual hospitalization costs to lessen inequity in accessing these procedures.
Radiofrequency Ablation ; Defibrillators, Implantable

The therapeutic effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been clinically established, and the procedure is now generally accepted as a curative treatment for very early or early stage HCC. Recently, we observed an aggressive recurrence after RFA for HCC in 50 year-old female. RFA was performed for a 2.7 cm sized HCC, which was completely ablated. However, 7 months later, aggressive intrahepatic recurrence was observed. Herein, we report a case with a discussion.
Ablation Techniques ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Catheter Ablation* ; Female ; Humans ; Recurrence

Microwave thermal ablation technology is widely used in the treatment of liver tumors because of its minimal invasiveness and small side effects. The precise control of the thermal dose largely determines the therapeutic effect of microwave thermal ablation. However, the current magnetron-based microwave thermal ablation device has the disadvantages of poor power output stability and high operating voltage. In view of the above problems, this paper selected the microwave solid-state source as the core device of microwave output, and designed a dual-frequency microwave thermal ablation system based on 2 450 MHz and 433 MHz. The system used the power detection circuit to perform PID feedback control on the actual output power of the system. The experimental results show that the maximum output power of the system is less than 1 W. The PID algorithm further enhances the accuracy and stability of the system output power while improving the system security. The dual-frequency microwave thermal ablation system designed in this paper can provide a safe and reliable experimental platform for subsequent research.
Catheter Ablation ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Microwaves ; Radiofrequency Ablation

Atrial tachycardia (AT) originating from the aortomitral junction is a very rare and challenging disease. Its arrhythmic characteristics have not been described in detail compared with the descriptions of the arrhythmic characteristics of AT originating from the other locations. Only a few case reports have documented successful ablation of this type of AT using transaortic or transseptal approaches. We describe a case with AT that was resistant to right-sided ablation near the His bundle failed and transaortic ablation at the aortomitral junction successfully eliminated.
Bundle of His ; Catheter Ablation ; Tachycardia*