Fix for a Faulty Heartbeat
By Thomas M. Burton, The Wall Street Journal
Patients with the most common type of irregular heartbeat who aren't helped by drugs may benefit from a treatment that freezes tiny portions of heart tissue to correct a flaw, a new study shows.
A total of 228 patients underwent a "catheter ablation," in which a tube is slid into the heart. The device uses liquid nitrogen to destroy cardiac tissue causing the errant heartbeat. Medtronic Inc., of Minneapolis, makes the device, called Arctic Front, and paid for the study.
In atrial fibrillation, the heart's electrical current flows where it's not supposed to. Ablation redirects electricity onto its proper path.The catheter typically is inserted into the femoral vein in the groin and slid up to the heart.A balloon at the tip of the catheter is pressed against heart tissue; liquid nitrogen is pumped into the balloon to freeze small portions of heart tissue.The frozen tissue forms scars, blocking and redirecting the electrical current.Source: WSJ reporting
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