For those who might be unfamiliar, describe the Framingham Heart Study.
The Framingham Heart Study has been going on for many years. The study was a means of following a large cohort of patients over many, many years to look at the epidemiology of heart disease. It is the long-term follow-up of a large number of patients involved that allows you to gain information that you can t get from short-term studies of smaller groups of patients.

Were you involved with this research?
No.

When did the Framingham Study begin researching the possible genetic link of AF

With over 15 years in the EP lab, Dr. Cohen is quite familiar with the challenges and radiation exposures that exist. Dr. Cohen, who personally performs a very large volume of EP procedures, began using the RADPAD ^® radiation protection products approximately two years ago. As a result, he has reduced his exposure significantly (over 50%). After using these products, Dr. Cohen decided that specially designed drapes and shields for the EP lab were needed. EP procedures are known for long fluoroscopy times and significant radiation exposures. Thus, the operator and the support techn

What is the size of your EP lab facility and number of staff members? What is the mix of credentials at your lab?
We have four electrophysiologists, two EP fellows, two procedure lab RNs, four procedure lab cardiovascular technicians (all from an accredited CVT Program), one RN coordinator, and one nurse practitioner.

Since then, our LACA technique has evolved so that the lesions resemble one continuous line circling the left atrium. This evolved technique eliminates the need to burn on the posterior left atrial wall, decreasing the risk of atrio-esophageal fistula. Additionally, for the last four months we have begun to use the Telesheath Left Atrial Introducer System from St. Jude Medical. This sheath-in-sheath guiding introducer provides three-dimensional movement and good stability throughout the left atrium, and has dramatically decreased average AF ablation procedure times. Today, in a norm

During this trial, we enrolled 163 patients over about a two-year period. In the end, we were very successful in the treatment of AVNRT. Our tougher cases were in the accessory pathways and total nodes. It became obvious to us that cryoablation was different from radiofrequency ablation, and that we needed to understand cryo as an energy source a little better. In April of 2003 we were granted FDA approval for the treatment of AVNRT using our Freezor cryoablation catheter. During the first year of market release, over 60 cryoablation systems have been installed in the US.
So how is cryo different from radiofrequency? One of the main differences is that we are not delivering heat to the tissue; rather, we are removing the heat just like how your refrigerator or air conditioner works. By removing heat, the connective tissue matrix is not disrupted and the result is a uniform, well fibrosed lesion.

When did the Florida Institute for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging open?

What were your reasons for choosing Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center? What excites you about the EP program there?
Kaiser Permanente is the nation's largest nonprofit health plan. It operates 11 hospitals in southern California. Its Los Angeles Medical Center is the organization's only tertiary care center for electrophysiology procedures and device implants in all of southern California except for San Diego. This means a population coverage of about three million. The Los Angeles Medical Center also has very active ACGME approved internal medicine, cardiology and inter

Case Report.
A 41-year-old Asian woman presented with symptoms of palpitations, shortness of breath and chest heaviness on exertion. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed severe asymmetrical hypertrophy (posterior wall thickness of 2 cm) and a significant septal wall thickness measuring 3 cm. Mild to moderate mitral regurgitation with a peak outflow tract gradient of 56 mmHg and PA pressure was noted at 52 mmHg.
The patient was treated with transcatheter alcohol septal ablation and later with AICD for primary prevention of ventricular tachycardia.

Bretylium
Is anyone else having trouble getting Bretylium? My pharmacy department is telling us they can't find any. If anyone has a supplier and/or ishaving the same problem, please respond.
G. Cusworth, RN

Guess #1:
From Blair Foreman, MD, FACC: