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

 
Guidance issued
 
IPG Number: IPG184

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

Arrangement:
Special
Topic area:
Cardiovascular
Surgical procedures
Specialty:
Cardio-thoracic surgery
Cardiology
Specialist advice sought from:

Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons in Great Britain and Ireland

British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group

British Cardic Society

Date notified to NICE:
20 January 2005
Provisional consultation date:
Spring 2011
Guidance issue date:
26 July 2006

Contact details:

Contact NICE about this project
Technical lead
(for procedure specific enquiries or comments)
Heather Stegenga
ip@nice.org.uk
Contact Address:

Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA

Links:

This page was last updated: 08 March 2011

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Accessibility | Cymraeg | Freedom of information | Vision Impaired | Contact Us | Glossary | Data protection | Copyright | Disclaimer | Terms and conditions

Copyright @ 2012 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. All rights reserved.