Symposium on Epicardial Approach to Posterior Cardiac Ablation Convenes at Heart Rhythm 2012

MORRISVILLE, North Carolina, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrophysiology thought leaders gathered to discuss the significance of posterior ablation in the treatment of arrhythmias, with presentations highlighting the importance of isolating the posterior left atrium with an adjunctive epicardial treatment. The symposium was supported by nContact, Inc. and held in conjunction with Heart Rhythm 2012, the Heart Rhythm Society's 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions, in Boston, MA, on the evening of May 8.

Titled "Relevance and Significance of Posterior Cardiac Ablation," the event explored how epicardial ablation, under direct endoscopic visibility and without chest incisions, can create posterior isolation, which may have clinical impact. It was moderated by James McKinnie, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Tulane University and Chief Cardiac Electrophysiologist at East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie, LA.

In summarizing the discussions, Dr. McKinnie commented, "Clinical experience demonstrates that epicardial ablation can achieve complete, transmural lesions on the posterior of the heart more effectively than endocardial ablation alone. While the invasiveness of epicardial ablation procedures has historically been a deterrent, new minimally invasive approaches, without chest incisions, lung deflation or heart dissections, are enabling electrophysiologists to incorporate epicardial ablation into their clinical practices and more adequately attain the critical endpoint of posterior isolation. To date, we are pleased with this adjunctive epicardial ablation therapy and feel it is beneficial to improving clinical practice."

Additional speakers and presentations included:

• "Impact of Atrial Remodeling on the Posterior Left Atrium and Recurrent Arrhythmias," by Kurt Roberts-Thomson, MBBS, PhD, of the University of Adelaide School of Medicine and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia. Dr. Roberts-Thomson commented, "Our lab has written profusely on the importance of the posterior wall as the mechanism of atrial fibrillation. The posterior wall has been implicated in the initiation and maintenance of AF and this technology can target sites potentially important in the mechanism of AF."
• "Mapping After Epicardial Ablation of the Posterior Left Atrium," by Murali Chiravuri, MD, PhD, of Bridgeport Hospital Yale New Haven Health, Bridgeport, CT, and Danbury Hospital, Danbury, CT. Dr. Chiravuri commented, "The great concern for endocardial ablation of the posterior is safety; particularly, collateral tissue damage of the esophagus. Other approaches have tried to create 'box' lesion sets to isolate the posterior with limited success, but this is the first approach that lays overlapping lesions across the posterior pulmonary vein extensions. As discussed at the symposium, we are excited to see improved early clinical results and evidence that complete posterior isolation may promote remodeling of diseased hearts and act to improve heart function."

nContact's  Numeris® Coagulation System with VisiTrax® and EPi-Sense™ Coagulation System technology enables access to the posterior of the atrium through a unique trans-diaphragmatic approach for minimally invasive, closed-chest epicardial ablation. For more information, please visit booth #383 at Heart Rhythm 2012, or visit www.ncontactinc.eu and www.ncontactinc.com.

About nContact, Inc.

nContact, Inc. is the leading innovator in epicardial ablation devices and techniques. Its mission is to transform the underserved arrhythmia market through the advancement of less invasive, more efficacious ablation alternatives for cardiac arrhythmias.

Its lead technologies, the EPi-Sense™ and Numeris® Coagulation System with VisiTrax®, have CE Mark approval in Europe for the coagulation of cardiac tissue for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

The Numeris® Coagulation System with VisiTrax® is indicated for endoscopic coagulation of cardiac tissue in the United States. The EPi-Sense™ device is not available in the United States.  nContact was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, U.S.A.