The optimal catheter ablation approach for longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remains elusive despite significant advances made in our understanding of this arrhythmia. A recent systematic review highlighted the significant variation in procedural success rate both within and between techniques, necessitating repeat ablation procedures and anti-arrhythmic drugs to achieve improved...

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation. Radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques are becoming increasingly accepted as the therapy of choice for selected patients with symptomatic arrhythmias. The ability to titrate the power output using radiofrequency current has allowed these ablative techniques to be applied safely in a variety of arrhythmias. In many institutions, radiofrequency catheter abla...

In this communication, we show the feasibility of the pulsed laser ablation technique to make very thin, uniform luminescent coatings on particulate systems. To deposit continuous particulate coatings, the laser-induced plume from the target comes in contact with an agitated bed of core particles ~size 1 mm!. The pressure and nature of the background gas ~inert or active! controls the cluster s...

Recent decades have seen a paradigm shift in the treatment of liver tumours from invasive surgical procedures to minimally invasive image-guided ablation techniques. Magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is a novel, completely non-invasive ablation technique that has the potential to change the field of liver tumour ablation. The image guidance, using MR imaging ...

Supraventricular arrhythmias are an important and increasing cause of morbidity in adults with congenital heart disease, requiring specific management strategies. Pharmacological treatment has limited efficacy, and is often associated with some side-effects. Major improvements in catheter ablation techniques have opened new opportunities to better understand underlying mechanisms of supraventri...

The benign breast lesions (BBLs) share a high incidence for women and therapy methods with minimal invasion and better cosmetic outcome are thirsted for. In this study, 122 patients with 198 biopsy-proved BBLs were enrolled. Ultrasound (US)-guided microwave ablation (MWA) was performed with local anesthesia from November, 2013 to April, 2016. The mean longest tumor size assessed was 1.6±0.7 cm ...

BACKGROUND Treatment options for liver metastases from solid tumors, such as colon cancer, breast cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and sarcomas, have expanded in recent years and now include nonresection methods. METHODS The literature focused on the treatment of liver metastases was reviewed for technique, perioperative, and long-term outcomes specifically related to local ablation techniques ...

Catheter ablation is an experimental procedure that may prove useful for patients with drug-refractory supraventricular tachycardia. Current techniques involve the use of high-energy direct-current shocks, delivered via electrode catheters. These techniques have been used most commonly for ablating the atrioventricular (AV) junction in patients with supraventricular tachycardia. Such ablation m...

A lack of effective immune response against cancer is one of the major risk factors for developing local recurrence and distant metastases after curative resectional surgery. Prior studies revealed that systemic antitumor immunity is elicited by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of tumor lesions, which is mainly considered a palliative procedure for unresectable tumors or for inoperable patients. R...