Microwave Ablation This special content section is dedicated to the discussion of Microwave Ablation, one of the surgical treatment options available for the treatment of AF. The section will be Co-edited by Mark M. Levinson, MD, Hutchinson, Kansas, as Editor-in-Chief of The Heart Surgery Forum, and Dr. Adam E. Saltman, of the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, who will serve as Section Editor. More about the Microwave Ablation Special Section

Dr. Levinson Dr. Saltman

Resources:

• Controversies in the Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation


• Didactic Session on Chronic Atrial Fibrillation


• Microwave Ablation Animations


• Concepts and Controversies: Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation Tampa, Florida


• Advantages of Microwave Ablation


• Atrial Fibrillation & Arrhythmia Surgery


• Assembling an Effective STAF Program


• Defining the Science of STAF Three Years After


• Minimally Invasive Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Combined with a New Technique for Thoracoscopic Stapling of the Left Atrial Appendage: Case Report


• Early and Late Outcome after Microwave Ablation for Chronic Valvular Atrial Fibrillation


• Intraoperative Microwave Ablation in Patients Undergoing Valvular Surgery: Midterm Results


• A Totally Endoscopic Technique for Off-Pump epicardial Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation on Beating Heart Surgical video presentation from Dr. Adam Saltman.


• Off-Pump Epicardial Microwave Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Surgical video case report demonstrating off-pump epicardial microwave ablation in a 61-year-old male.


• Endocardial Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using the Afx Microwave Catheter Video surgical technique demonstration from HSF Editor-in-Chief Mark Levinson


• Endocardial Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using the Afx Microwave Catheter Video surgical technique demonstration from HSF Editor-in-Chief Mark Levinson


• A Completely Endoscopic Approach to Microwave Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Adam E. Saltman, Lawrence S. Rosenthal, Nicola A. Francalancia, Stephen J. Lahey


• Endocardial Microwave Ablation: A New Surgical Approach for Atrial Fibrillation Mark Levinson, MD


• Microwave Ablation: A Discussion with Dr. Adam E. Saltman An audio feature with Dr. Saltman, provided in MP3 format.


• Microwave Ablation Catheter for Thoracoscopic Use in Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Bas Mochtar, Jos G. Maessen


• Endoscopic, Beating-Heart Approach to Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation Michael Argenziano, Mauricio Garrido, Mathew R.Williams, L.Wiley Nifong, Craig R. Smith, Mehmet C. Oz


• Microwave Ablation for Curative Treatment of Patients with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation Sems M.Tugtekin, Michael Knaut, Stefan G. Spitzer, Vassilios Gulielmos

• Dose Response Curves for Microwave Ablation in the Cardioplegia-Arrested Porcine Heart
  Sydney L. Gaynor, MD, Gregory D. Byrd, Michael D. Diodato, MD, et al.

Key References:

• Application of microwave energy in cardiac tissue ablation: from in vitro analyses to clinical use. Williams MR, Knaut M, Berube D, Oz MC. Ann Thorac Surg 2002;74 (11):1500-1505.
• Microwave Ablation for Curative Treatment of Patients with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation and Concomitant Cardiosurgical Procedure - High Efficiency in Comparison to Isolated Cardiosurgical Procedures. Tugtekin SM, Knaut M, Spitzer SG, Gulielmos V. Heart Surg Forum 2002; 5 (S2):S191.
• A Totally Endoscopic, Beating-Heart Approach to Pulmonary Vein Isolation for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. Argenziano M, Garrido M, Williams MR, Nifong WL, Smith CR, Oz MC. Heart Surg Forum 2002; 5 (S2):S191.
• Initial Clinical Experience with a New Microwave Ablation Catheter for Thoracoscopic Use in Atrial Fibrillation Treatment. Mochtar B, Maessen JG. Heart Surg Forum 2002; 5(S2):S191.
• Beating-heart surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation with microwave ablation. Maessen JG, Nijs JF, Smeets JL, Vainer J, Mochtar B. Ann Thorac Surg 2002; 74(4):S1307-S1311.
• Microwave ablation of atrial fibrillation during mitral valve operations. Gillinov AM, Smedira NG, Cosgrove DM. Ann Thorac Surg 2002; 74(4):1259-1261.
• Microwave ablation for surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. Williams MR, Argenziano M, Oz MC. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2002;14(3):232-237.
• Combined atrial fibrillation and mitral valve surgery using microwave technology. Knaut M, Tugtekin SM, Spitzer S, Gulielmos V. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2002;14(3):226-231.

Microwave Ablation Technology

In microwave ablation treatment a special wand-like catheter is used to direct microwave energy to create several lesions on the heart. The lesions block the conduction of abnormal electrical beats and restore a normal heartbeat.