High intensity focused ultrasound ablation of atrial tissue for atrial fibrillation as an associated procedure with other cardiac surgery

Summary

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on high-intensity focused ultrasound for atrial fibrillation in association with other cardiac surgery in July 2006.

NICE has reviewed this guidance and is reassessing the procedure. New guidance will be published as a result. Until the new guidance is published the NHS should continue to follow the recommendations in the guidance below.

The Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee (IPAC) will consider this procedure review and NICE will issue an Interventional Procedures Consultation Document about its safety and efficacy for 4 weeks public consultation. IPAC will then review the consultation document in the light of comments received and produce a Final Interventional Procedures Document, which will be considered by NICE before guidance is issued to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If you wish to be updated to any developments with this procedure, you can express an interest here.

Description

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the irregular and rapid beating of the upper two chambers of the heart (the atria). This is caused by a disruption in the electrical impulses that control the heartbeat. Symptoms, if present, can include palpitations, dizziness, breathlessness and fatigue. This procedure uses an ultrasound device to send a focused beam of ultrasound energy to burn and destroy a targeted area of the heart in order to disrupt the abnormal electrical impulses.

OPCS4.6 Code(s):

Details

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Links:

	IPG184 High-intensity focused ultrasound for atrial fibrillation as an associated procedure with other cardiac surgery - guidance	26 July 2006
	IPG184 High-intensity focused ultrasound for atrial fibrillation as an associated procedure with other cardiac surgery - guidance (web format)	04 February 2011
	IPG184 High-intensity focused ultrasound for atrial fibrillation as an associated procedure with other cardiac surgery - information for the public	26 July 2006
	IPG184 High-intensity focused ultrasound for atrial fibrillation as an associated procedure with other cardiac surgery - information for the public (Word version)	26 July 2006
	Interventional procedures consultation document - high intensity focused ultrasound ablation for atrial fibrillation as an associated procedure with other cardiac surgery	03 January 2006
	Interventional procedures overview - high intensity focused ultrasound ablation for atrial fibrillation as an associated procedure with other cardiac surgery	03 January 2006