Catheter Cryoablation

[Rachelle]

Does anyone know about Catheter Cryo Ablation and it's use to eliminate rapid heart beats or if it's ever been used on a HCM patient for rapid heart beats, tacacardia or afib? I've been reading about it and seems like a wonderful new medical breakthrough.

[Pam Alexson]

Rachelle,

I am sorry no one has responded here. I do not have any info . What comes to mind is radiofrequency ablation ( this is different right?). I remember reading that the radiofrequency ablation is not very popular due to the myocardial dissaray but can not say that this is the same. In the meantime , I will try and check around. Perhaps someone else will have some more info also.

Pam

[Burton Borrok]

Hi,
From what I’ve been able to uncover, it appears that cryo catheter ablation is more or less an ablation where the doctors freeze the unwanted tissue rather then ablate it with alcohol. I haven’t heard much about it, and presume it is a rather new approach – probably in need of further study before the efficacy can be fairly evaluated.

You might be able to learn more at –
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15708706&dopt=Abstract

Hope this is of some help.
Burt

[Rachelle]

Thank you both for your help!

Rachelle