Cellular electrophysiological effects of hyperthermia on isolated guinea pig papillary muscle. Implications for catheter ablation.

Abstract

Hyperthermia causes significant changes in myocardial cellular electrophysiological properties that include membrane depolarization, reversible and irreversible loss of excitability, and abnormal automaticity. There appear to be specific temperature ranges for reversible and irreversible electrophysiological changes. These observations may have important implications for tissue temperature monitoring during radiofrequency catheter ablation.