HIFU procedures at moderate intensities--effect of large blood vessels

A three-dimensional computational model is presented for studying the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedures targeted near large blood vessels. The analysis applies to procedures performed at intensities below the threshold for cavitation, boiling and highly nonlinear propagation, but high enough to increase tissue temperature a few degrees per second. The model is based upon the linearized KZK equation and the bioheat equation in tissue. In the blood vessel the momentum and energy equations are satisfied. The model is first validated in a tissue phantom, to verify the absence of bubble formation and nonlinear effects. Temperature rise and lesion-volume calculations are then shown for different beam locations and orientations relative to a large vessel. Both single and multiple ablations are considered. Results show that when the vessel is located within about a beam width (few mm) of the ultrasound beam, significant reduction in lesion volume is observed due to blood flow. However, for gaps larger than a beam width, blood flow has no major effect on the lesion formation. Under the clinically representative conditions considered, the lesion volume is reduced about 40% (relative to the no-flow case) when the beam is parallel to the blood vessel, compared to about 20% for a perpendicular orientation. Procedures involving multiple ablation sites are affected less by blood flow than single ablations. The model also suggests that optimally focused transducers can generate lesions that are significantly larger (>2 times) than the ones produced by highly focused beams.     

Long-term safety and effectiveness of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ablation using a porous tip contact force-sensing catheter from the SMART SF trial

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology - The prospective, multicenter SMART SF trial demonstrated the acute safety and effectiveness of the 56-hole porous tip irrigated contact force...     

His bundle lead placement: Is His bundle captured?

A 59-year-old female underwent a dual-chamber pacemaker implantation for intermittent complete heart block. A baseline electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm with first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block and right bundle branch block. A His bundle lead placement was attempted. An intracardiac electrogram from the His bundle lead demonstrated atrial-His, and His-ventricular intervals were 186 and 110 ms, respectively. Pacing was performed from the His bundle lead with a decremental pacing output to assess for the His bundle capture threshold. However, there were no significant QRS morphology changes during the pacing. Is the His bundle captured? The tracing evaluation demonstrated the fascinating physiology of activation wavefront in His Purkinje system that could be applied in the use of conducting system pacing technologies.