REMINDER: OR-Live.com Presents: CryoMaze Procedure, a Surgical Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation

Surgical Webcast: Wednesday, March 8, 2006 5:00pm EST (22:00 UTC)

On March 8, 2006, beginning at 5 pm, EST, the University of Maryland Heart Center's division of cardiac surgery will present a webcast of a CryoMaze procedure, which uses cryoablation to surgically treat atrial fibrillation (AF). Surgeon James Gammie, M.D., an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, will demonstrate this method of using CryoCath's Argon-powered cold probe to create electrical barriers in the upper chamber of the heart. By freezing the atrial tissue for about a minute, electrical activity is permanently blocked. Research data suggests that 85 to 90 percent of patients are cured of AF following this procedure.

In the United States, there are an estimated 160,000 new cases of atrial fibrillation diagnosed annually. Currently, more than 2.5 million Americans have this type of arrhythmia and its prevalence is only expected to rise, as the condition is age related. Classified as the most common type of abnormal heart beat, AF is associated with more than 70,000 deaths each year and is the primary factor in 15-20% of all strokes. AF leads to an impaired quality of life and reduced functionality. Those afflicted have lower exercise tolerance, palpitations, fatigue, and dizziness.

Today, most cases of AF are treated with a course of drug therapy that either thins the blood or slows down the heart rate. Drugs may have to be taken as many as four times a day and have serious side effects that include low blood pressure, lung damage, nausea, and dizziness.

"We have taken an aggressive stance toward the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients requiring cardiac surgery -- our approach is to perform the CryoMaze procedure on any patient with AF who needs heart surgery," explains Dr. Gammie.

Dr. Gammie continues, "The CryoMaze is fast and simple to perform, and remarkably effective. We think that the potential benefits to having a surgical cure for AF are substantial. These include a lower risk of stroke, the potential for stopping blood thinners, and amelioration of symptoms."

This webcast is supported in part by an educational grant(s) from CryoCath Technologies Inc. Dr. Gammie is a consultant to CryoCath, serving on its surgical advisory board.

Visit http://www.or-live.com/umm/1409 now to learn more. VNR: http://www.or-live.com/rams/unm-1409-mkw-q.ram

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