Towards Detection of Conduction Tissue During Cardiac Surgery: Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Postoperative conduction block requiring lifetime pacemaker placement continues to be a considerable source of morbidity for patients undergoing repair of congenital heart defects. Damage to the cardiac conduction system (CCS) during surgical procedures is thought to be a major cause of the conduction block. Intraoperative identification and avoidance of the CCS is thus a key strategy to improve surgical outcomes. In order to avoid conduction tissue damage and mitigate morbidity a number of approaches have been developed.

Source: Heart Rhythm - July 8, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Frank B. Sachse, Jordan Johnson, Brian Cottle, Abhijit Mondal, Robert Hitchcock, Aditya K. Kaza Source Type: research