Damián Sánchez-Quintana

Damián Sánchez-Quintana received the MD and the Ph.D. degrees in medicine from the University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain, in 1979 and 1986, respectively. He is currently Professor of Human Anatomy at the Faculty of Medicine of Badajoz. He was during 1995 senior visitor at the laboratory of Professor Robert H Anderson, in the Department of Paediatrics, National Heart and Lung Institute, London. Since the year 1990 the technique of radiofrequency transcatheter ablation has been used to eliminate the morphologic substrate that produces the arrhythmogenic focus and, although a high percentage of cures are achieved, the mechanisms underlying the development of many arrhythmias remains unknown, specially those involved in atrial fibrillation. The technique of ablation using radiofrequency is based on the production through the endocardium or the epicardium of a heat lesion that affects the myocardium and interrupts the electrical conduction through the affected area. Our studies are based on the research, characterization and review of cardiac anatomy to offer the clinical electrophysiologist a more detailed knowledge not only of cardiac anatomy, but also of the anatomical substrate of arrhythmias, in order to improve the treatment and prevent complications of ablation. That is, our objectives are focused on translational cardiac anatomy. Since the year 1996 our group is dedicated to the study of the macroscopic and microscopic structure of the morphologic substrate of different arrhythmias, studying different areas of the heart involved, such as: triangle of Koch, inferior pyramidal space, cavo-tricuspid isthmus, cardiac nodes and their vascularization, left atrium and pulmonary veins. He has authored or coauthored extensively.