Catheter and surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias
Article Abstract:
During the past decade many new drugs have been found to be useful in the medical control of irregular heart beats or arrhythmias. However, in certain cases patients are resistant to pharmacologic methods of treatment. Now surgical methods are available to many of these drug-resistant patients which allow them to resume relatively normal lives. In some cases these surgical approaches require the chest to be open and the heart directly explored, but in some the surgery can be carried out by the use of a catheter. A catheter is a relatively small flexible tube which is advanced into the heart by threading it through the vascular system from its point of entrance, a needle placed through the skin. The types of tachycardia (rapid heart beat) are discussed, as are conditions of the heart's intrinsic conduction system in which extra, unusual electric conduction routes are present and are responsible for the pathology. In some of these cases surgical resection of these unusual conduction bundles can result in dramatic improvements of the cardiac arrhythmia. Although the goal of surgery for tachycardia is resumption of normal cardiac rhythm without the use of drugs or electrical pacemaker, this is achieved in only a small number of cases. Often the use of surgery in drug-resistant patients is only achieved by destroying the normal internal regulation of the heart beat so that artificial means such as a pacemaker can become effective. Although open heart surgery and catheter ablation methods remain new and are not yet fully developed, their place in the care and treatment of some patients is well established.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1990
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Early use of the pulmonary artery catheter and outcomes in patients with shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized controlled trial
Article Abstract:
Using a pulmonary artery catheter to treat critically ill patients may not improve their outcome, according to a study of 676 patients who had either septic shock or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Pulmonary artery catheters are used to monitor the heart and lungs, and to provide treatments based on these assessments. It had no beneficial effect in this study, which compared patients who were catheterized with those who were not.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 2003
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Catheter ablation therapy for Supraventricular Arrhythmias
Article Abstract:
The article discusses the Supraventricular Arrhythmias that includes a wide spectrum of disorders and their treatment including catheter ablation therapy.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 2007
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