Douglas L. Packer, M.D.

The translational research of Douglas L. Packer, M.D., focuses on the mechanisms and ablation of atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias, and the development of external beam carbon and proton particle catheter-free ablation of arrhythmias.

Focus areas:

• Atrial fibrillation. Whether percutaneous catheter ablation also has a favorable effect on survival, stroke, quality of life, and healthcare costs has not been studied extensively, but is being studied by Dr. Packer as Principal Investigator of the CABANA Trial.
• Ventricular tachycardia. Dr. Packer is working to develop new means of treating ventricular tachycardia. Dr. Packer codeveloped a needle electrode catheter, which allows for the extension of a heated saline via needle tip into the tissue to create larger lesions.
• The Catheter Ablation versus Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation (CABANA) Trial. A multicenter randomized trial compares the effect of percutaneous catheter ablation versus current state-of-the-art drug therapy on total mortality, disabling stroke, serious bleeding or cardiac arrest as the primary endpoint. The CABANA Trial will look at total mortality as the key secondary endpoint along with quality of life and healthcare costs.

Biophysics of ablation using special catheters for ventricular arrhythmias. Dr. Packer is investigating the source of stroke event occurrence during radiofrequency ablation with irrigation tip, laser, or cryo and other catheters. External photon beam and carbon beam radiation. Dr. Packer's present research seeks to investigate whether external photon beam and carbon beam radiation can be used to successfully target arrhythmogenic cardiac tissue and produce sustained, as well as controllable.