Remote catheter navigation during radiofrequency ablation for cardiac arrhythmias

Excerpt: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a catheter-based, minimally invasive treatment for cardiac arrhythmia (i.e., atrial fibrillation [AF], ventricular tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia ,   atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia) that has not responded to optimal medical management.   Optimal medical management includes lifestyle changes and antiarrhythmic drug therapy. RFA involves ablating abnormal tissue in the heart or in nearby structures to restore normal cardiac rhythm. 1 The procedure may include ablation of arrhythmogenic triggers around the junction of the pulmonary veins with the left atrium, also known as pulmonary vein isolation.

Emerging Technology Reports

Emerging Technology Evidence Reports provide technology assessments of new and emerging drugs, devices, procedures, and services. An analytic team systematically researches, identifies, and analyzes the clinical evidence available to address key questions and patient-oriented outcomes. Usually, the quantity of available evidence is too small to permit meta-analysis. Every report provides an Executive Summary and important information about factors affecting adoption and implementation, such as manufacturers/service providers, costs, regulatory status, training/credentialing issues, clinical standards/guidelines, effect on other technologies, and reimbursement.