Complication rates , including cardiac tamponade , did not differ between groups .
Compared with the use of other catheters , AF ablation using the CF-sensing ST catheter for AF is associated with improved success rates , shorter procedure and fluoroscopy times and similar safety profile
OBJECTIVES The objective of our review was to systematic ally assess available evidence on the effectiveness , safety and efficiency of a spring sensor-irrigated contact force ( CF ) catheter ( THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH Catheter ( ST ) ) for percutaneous ablation of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , compared with other ablation catheters , or with the ST with the operator blinded to CF data .
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests improved clinical outcomes of AF ablation using CF-sensing catheters ; however , review s to date have included data from multiple , distinct CF technologies .
Contact-force guided radiofrequency vs. second-generation balloon cryotherapy for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation-a prospective evaluation.
AIMS In the setting of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , there are no available data comparing the mid-term outcome of patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) catheter ablation using contact-force (CF)-guided radiofrequency ( RF ) vs. second-generation balloon cryotherapy . METHODS AND RESULTS Prospect i ve single-centre evaluation , carried out from March 2011 to February 2013 , comparing CF radiofrequency ( Thermocool ( ® ) SmartTouch ™ , Biosense Webster , Inc. ) ( CF group ) with cryoballoon ablation ( A rct ic Front Advance ™ 28 mm cryoballoon , Medtronic , Inc. ) ( CB group ) , in regards to procedural safety and efficacy , as well as recurrence at 12 months . Overall , 150 consecutive patients were enrolled ( 75 in each group ) . The characteristics of patients of both the groups were similar ( 61.2 ± 9.9 years , women 25.3 % , mean AF duration 4.1 ± 4.0 years , mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 1.4 ± 1.3 , mean HAS-BLED 1.4 ± 0.6 ) . Duration of the procedure was significantly lower in the CF group ( 110.7 ± 32.5 vs. 134.5 ± 48.3 min , P = 0.001 ) , with a lower duration of fluoroscopy ( 21.5 ± 8.5 vs. 25.3 ± 9.9 min , P = 0.017 ) and X-ray exposure ( 4748 ± 2411 cGy cm² vs. 7734 ± 5361 cGy cm² , P = 0.001 ) . In contrast , no significant difference was found regarding significant procedural complication ( 2.7 vs. 1.3 % in CF and CB groups , respectively ; P = 0.56 ) , and PVI was eventually achieved in all cases . At 12 months , AF recurrence occurred in 11 patients ( 14.7 % ) in the CB group and in 9 patients ( 12.0 % ) in the CF group ( HR = 1.20 95 % CI 0.50 - 2.90 ; log rank P = 0.682 ) . CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary findings suggest that CF-guided radiofrequency and cryotherapy present very similar performances in the setting of paroxysmal AF catheter ablation
Complication rates , including cardiac tamponade , did not differ between groups .
Compared with the use of other catheters , AF ablation using the CF-sensing ST catheter for AF is associated with improved success rates , shorter procedure and fluoroscopy times and similar safety profile
OBJECTIVES The objective of our review was to systematic ally assess available evidence on the effectiveness , safety and efficiency of a spring sensor-irrigated contact force ( CF ) catheter ( THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH Catheter ( ST ) ) for percutaneous ablation of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , compared with other ablation catheters , or with the ST with the operator blinded to CF data .
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests improved clinical outcomes of AF ablation using CF-sensing catheters ; however , review s to date have included data from multiple , distinct CF technologies .