A new imaging technique that will greatly reduce the chances of potentially deadly complications has been pioneered by Physicians at the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

The said innovative technique enables physicians to track the exact location of the esophagus during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation (a procedure that utilizes a high-frequency electrical current to treat persistent abnormal heartbeats).

Grant R. Simons, MD, Chief of Cardiac Electrophysiology at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, explains:

"This new technique maximizes the effectiveness of the ablation procedure while minimizing the risk of esophageal injury.Damage to the esophagus is a rare but very serious complication which is associated with RFA of atrial fibrillation. Our findings present a significant advance in operative safety, and we expect that other centers will adopt this technique."

The technique was created by physicians and surgeons in the Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Department of Medicine, and Department of Anesthesiology at Englewood Hospital. Detailing the research and findings based on the new procedure is an articled entitled "Continuous Nonfluoroscopic Localization of the Esophagus During Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation" that is published in the January 2007 edition of the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology (JCE).

[The research and editorial team was directed by Dr. Simons and Cardiac Electrophysiologist David Y. Feigenblum, MD, PhD.]

Find more details from the press release.

[Photo Credit: Washington County Hospital]