AtriCure Launches Solution for Treatment of Post-Thoracotomy Pain
The CryoICE® cryo ablation probe is now available for cryoanalgesia therapy
Cryoanalgesia is a method of temporarily relieving pain by cryo ablating the affected nerve, causing an interruption of pain impulses to the brain. For cardiac and thoracic surgery patients, the pain impulses are blocked by ablating the intercostal nerve bundle(s), thereby alleviating the pain associated with a thoracotomy incision. When applied appropriately, cryoanalgesia can relieve pain for several days and in some cases weeks.
“The expanded indication provides patients and physicians with options
to manage the pain associated with a thoracotomy.” said
“The pain management options available today are not optimal,” stated
Dr.
Currently, surgeons use epidurals, intercostal nerve blocks and prescription narcotics for pain management. Studies have suggested that cryoanalgesia is a useful method for both short- and long-term relief from pain related to thoracotomy access.1 It is estimated that more than 25,000 cardiac and thoracic surgeries are performed in the US every year using a thoracotomy approach.2
“I have used cryoanalgesia as an adjunct to conventional pain relief
techniques in nearly 75 cases of mitral valve surgeries via
mini-thoracotomies,” stated Dr.
More information can be found at www.AtriCure.com.
About AtriCure
1 Moorjani N, Zhao F, Tian Y, Liang C, Kaluba J, Maiwand O. “Effects of
cryoanalgesia on post-thoracotomy pain and on the structure intercostal
nerves: a human prospective randomized trial and a histological study.”
Eur J Cardiothoracic Surg. 2001 Sep; 20 (3): 502-7.
2 STS Adult
Cardiac Surgery Database, 3rd Harvest 2014. STS General
Thoracic Surgery Database, Fall Harvest 2014.
3 Chugh
SS, Havmoeller
R, Narayanan
K, Singh
D, Rienstra
M, et al., “Worldwide epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: a Global
Burden of Disease 2010 Study.” Circulation.
2014 Feb 25; 129 (8):837-47.
Source:
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