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 .
Prospective use of Ablation Index targets improves clinical outcomes following ablation for atrial fibrillation
Aims : Late recovery of ablated tissue leading to reconnection of pulmonary veins remains common following radiofrequency catheter ablation for AF . Ablation Index ( AI ) , a novel ablation quality marker , incorporates contact force ( CF ) , time , and power in a weighted formula . We hypothesized that prospect i ve use of our previously published derived AI targets would result in better outcomes when compared to CF‐guided ablation . Methods : Eighty‐nine consecutive drug‐refractory AF patients ( 49 % paroxysmal ) underwent AI‐guided ablation ( AI‐group ) . AI targets were 550 for anterior/roof and 400 for posterior/inferior left atrial segments . Procedural and clinical outcomes of these patients were compared to 89 propensity‐matched controls who underwent CF‐guided ablation ( CF‐group ) . All 178 procedures were otherwise similar , and both groups were followed‐up for 12 months . The last 25 patients from each group underwent analysis of all VisiTags ™ for ablation duration , CF , Force‐Time Integral , and impedance drop . Results : First‐pass pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) was more frequent in AI‐group than in CF‐group ( 173 [ 97 % ] vs. 149 [ 84 % ] circles , P < 0.001 ) , and acute PV reconnection was lower ( 11 [ 6 % ] vs. 24 [ 13 % ] circles , P = 0.02 ) . Mean PVI ablation time was similar ( AI‐group : 42 ± 9 vs. CF‐group : 45 ± 14 minutes , P = 0.14 ) . Median impedance drop for AI‐group was significantly higher than in CF‐group ( 13.7 [ 9‐19 ] Ω vs. 8.8 [ 5.2‐13 ] Ω , P < 0.001 ) . Two major complications occurred in CF‐group and none in AI‐group . Atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence was significantly lower in AI‐group ( 15 of 89 [ 17 % ] ) than in CF‐group ( 33 of 89 [ 37 % ] , P = 0.002 ) . Conclusion : AI‐guided ablation is associated with significant improvements in the incidence of acute PV reconnection and atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence rate compared to CF‐guided ablation , potentially due to creation of better quality lesions as suggested by greater impedance drop
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 .