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 .
Improving procedural and one-year outcome after contact force-guided pulmonary vein isolation: the role of interlesion distance, ablation index, and contact force variability in the 'CLOSE'-protocol.
Aims We have recently shown that a contact force (CF)-guided ablation protocol respecting region-specific criteria of lesion contiguity and lesion depth ( ' CLOSE ' protocol ) is associated with high incidence of acute durable pulmonary vein ( PV ) isolation ( PVI ) and a high single-procedure arrhythmia-free survival at 1 year . In the present study , we compared efficiency , safety , and efficacy of ' CLOSE'-guided PVI to conventional CF-guided PVI ( CONV-CF ) . Methods and results Fifty consecutive paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ( AF ) patients underwent PV encircling using a CF-sensing catheter  targeting an interlesion distance ( ILD ) ≤6 mm and ablation index ( AI ) ≥400 and ≥550 at posterior and anterior wall ( ' CLOSE ' group ) . Results were compared to the last 50 patients undergoing ' CONV-CF ' . All patients underwent adenosine testing after PVI .  Arrhythmia recurrence was defined as any atrial tachyarrhythmia ( ATA ) > 30 s on Holter at 3 , 6 , and 12 months . Clinical characteristics did not differ . Contact force variability was comparable in between both groups ( proportion of applications with intermittent contact 2 % in ' CLOSE ' vs. 1 % in CONV-CF , P = 0.67 ) . In the ' CLOSE ' group , procedure time and radiofrequency ( RF ) time per circle were shorter ( respectively 149 ± 33 min vs. 192 ± 42 min , P < 0.0001 and 18 ± 4 min vs 28 ± 7.5 min , P < 0.0001 ) and incidence of adenosine-proof isolation was higher ( 97 % vs. 82 % , P < 0.001 ) . No complications were observed in the ' CLOSE ' group , one tamponade in the ' CONV-CF ' group . At 12 months , single-procedure freedom from ATA was 94 % in ' CLOSE ' vs. 80 % in ' CONV-CF ' group ( P < 0.05 ) . In both groups , the majority of reconnections at repeat were associated with either ILD > 6 mm and /or AI < 400/550 ( 100 % vs. 83 % , P = 0.99 ) . Conclusion ' CLOSE'-guided PVI improves procedural and 1 year outcome in CF-guided PVI while shortening procedure time . Improvement can not be explained by differences in CF variability and is most likely due to the strict application of criteria for contiguity and ablation index . A r and omized controlled trial is needed to exclude the possible contribution of a learning curve
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 .