Positive Results Published Using AtriCure Minimally Invasiv...( WEST CHESTER Ohio Jan. 7 /- AtriC...),Health

WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AtriCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRC), a medical device company and a leader in cardiac surgical ablation products, today announced that results reporting on the Company's proprietary minimally invasive products, which physicians have adopted to treat atrial fibrillation (AF), were published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery by Dr. James H. Wudel, a prominent cardiac surgeon, and colleagues from the Nebraska Heart Hospital, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dr. Wudel reported the results from 22 patients with symptomatic, drug refractory, intermittent AF who underwent a video assisted, minimally invasive, thoracoscopic pulmonary vein isolation procedure using the AtriCure minimally invasive bipolar ablation system. Additionally, in 21 of the 22 patients, the left atrial appendage was removed.

Of the 22 symptomatic, drug refractory, intermittent AF patients, 8 patients presented with persistent AF and 14 patients presented with paroxysmal AF. All 22 patients were followed for a minimum of one year with an average follow-up of eighteen months. Holter monitoring was applied at the final follow-up to more accurately determine the rhythm status.

At the final follow-up, 20 patients (91%) were in normal sinus rhythm and off antiarrhythmic drugs. Additionally, 20 patients (91%) were no longer taking warfarin at the end of the study period.

Dr. James H. Wudel commented, "These promising minimally invasive products and techniques provided desirable results and are a viable option for selected AF patients. On average our length of hospital stay was three days and our patients went home to an improved quality of life. We look forward to the continued development of these minimally invasive too
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