Conclusion Meta- analysis of r and omized data demonstrated that CF guidance does not improve the safety or efficacy of AF ablation , despite initial observational data showing dramatic improvement .
Aims Despite widespread adoption of contact force ( CF ) sensing technology in atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation , r and omized data suggests lack of improvement in clinical outcomes .
We aim ed to assess the safety and efficacy of CF-guided vs. non CF-guided AF ablation .
Clinical experience with contact-force and flexible-tip ablation catheter designs
Purpose Lesion formation is a critical determinant of technical and clinical success of  pulmonary vein isolation .  Different catheter design s aim to enhance tissue contact during ablation to enable optimized lesion formation . We analyzed procedural characteristics and predictors of clinical success in patients ablated with three different contemporary ablation catheters .  Methods Two hundred sixty-eight sequentially included patients receiving pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) with conventional ( n = 122 ) , contact-force ( n = 96 ) and flexible-tip ( n = 60 ) catheters  were followed for a median of 14.1 months with 7d-Holter-monitoring and TTE at 3 , 6 , 12 , and 24 months . Baseline characteristics and follow-up times were homogeneous across all groups . Results Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression for arrhythmia recurrence demonstrated a favorable hazard ratio for contact-force and flexible-tip catheters vs. conventional open irrigation catheters .  Procedure time and fluoroscopy time were shorter for contact-force and flexible-tip catheters versus conventional catheters , but equal between . Linear lesions were applied in 58 % of contact-force and 66 % of flexible-tip cases , and CFAEs were targeted in 26 % of either . Conclusions Our non-r and omized prospect ively collected data do not show a difference in observed procedure characteristics and in clinical outcome for flexible-tip versus contact-force catheter design s , while both display improved performance against conventional open irrigated-tip catheters . Linear lesions and CFAEs ablation were not associated with improved arrhythmia-free survival
Conclusion Meta- analysis of r and omized data demonstrated that CF guidance does not improve the safety or efficacy of AF ablation , despite initial observational data showing dramatic improvement .
Aims Despite widespread adoption of contact force ( CF ) sensing technology in atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation , r and omized data suggests lack of improvement in clinical outcomes .
We aim ed to assess the safety and efficacy of CF-guided vs. non CF-guided AF ablation .