Surgical ablation has become a routine procedure in many institutions and is a nearing standard of care for certain conditions. A variety of energy sources are available to the surgeon to induce cell death and create a line of conduction block. This article provides a brief review of the biophysics of irrigated radiofrequency and its application to monopolar and bipolar ablation.
SimmersT.A., DeBakkerJ.M.T., WittkamphF.H.Effects of heating on impulse propagation in superfused canine myocardium. J Am Coll Cardiol.1995; 25: 1457–1464.
2.
HainesD.E., WatsonD.D.Tissue heating during radiofrequency catheter ablation; a thermodynamic model and observations in isolated perfused and superfused canine right ventricular free wall. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol.1989; 12: 962–976.
3.
NathS., HainesD.E.Biophysics and pathology of catheter energy delivery systems. Prog Cardiovasc Dis.1995; 37: 185–205.
4.
MarroucheN.F., MartinD.O., WazniO.Phased-array intracardiac echocardiography monitoring during pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation: impact on outcome and complications. Circulation.2003; 107: 2710–2716.
5.
NakagawaH., YamanashiW.S., PithaJ.V.Comparison of in vivo temperature profile and lesion geometry for radiofrequency ablation with a saline-irrigated electrode versus temperature control in a canine thigh muscle preparation. Circulation.1995; 91: 2264–2273.
6.
DemazumderD., MirotznikM.S., SchwartzmanD.Biophysics of radiofrequency ablation using an irrigated electrode. J Interv Card Electrophysiol.2001; 5: 377–389.
7.
ErdoganA., GrumbrechtS., NeumannT.Microwave, irrigated, pulsed, or conventional radiofrequency energy: which energy source for catheter ablation?Pacing Clin Eelectrophysiol.2003; 26: 504–506.
8.
DorwarthU., FiekM., RempT.Radiofrequency catheter ablation: different cooled and noncooled electrode systems induce specific lesion geometries and adverse effects profiles. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol.2003; 26: 1438–1445.
9.
KotiniP., MohlerS., EllenbogenK.A.Detection of microbubble formation during radiofrequency ablation using phonocardiography. Europace.2006; 8: 333–335.
10.
BunchT.J., BruceG.K., JohnsonS.B.Analysis of catheter-tip (8 mm) and actual tissue temperatures achieved during radiofrequency ablation at the orifice of the pulmonary vein. Circulation.2004; 110: 2988–2995.
11.
BruceG.K., BunchT.J., MiltonM.A.Discrepancies between catheter tip and tissue temperature in cooled-tip ablation; relevance to guiding left atrial ablation. Circulation.2005; 112: 954–960.
12.
AupperleH., DollN., WaltherT.Ablation of atrial fibrillation and esophageal injury: effects of energy source and ablation technique. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.2005; 130: 1549–1554.
GillinovA.M., McCarthyP.M.Atricure bipolar radiofrequency clamp for intraoperative ablation of atrial fibrillation. Ann Thorac Surg.2002; 74: 2165–2168.
15.
MelbyS.J., GaynorS.L., LubahnJ.G.Efficacy and safety of right and left atrial ablations on the beating heart with irrigated bipolar radiofrequency energy: a long-term animal study. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.2006; 132: 853–860.
