Real time computerized monitoring of shock parameters during transcatheter ablation in man

Endocavitary fulguration (EF) of refractory cardiac arrythmias is performed utilizing an electric shock of several hundred volts through an electrode catheter. To control the physical variables of the procedure simultaneous recordings of voltage, current, energy, and impedance are required. For this reason, a computerized system was developed to allow acquisition, real-time analysis, and automatic storage of all physical variables during the procedure. The real-time display of the energy delivered and of the wave slopes of the electrical shock allows the immediate evaluation of the effectiveness of the shock, the possible system malfunctions, the need for multiple shocks, and complications. Two clinical cases are reported as examples. They show the usefulness of an automatic system for the real-time monitoring of an endocavity ablation session via catheter.< >