In conclusion , this meta- analysis shows that the use of CF technology decreases AF recurrence at a median follow-up of 12 months and also led to decreased use of RF during ablation .
There was no difference in total procedure length and fluoroscopy exposure
The suboptimal outcomes of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation have been attributed to lack of transmural lesions during pulmonary vein isolation .
The advent of contact force ( CF ) sensing technology enables real-time assessment of the applied force at the catheter-tissue interface and increases the chances of transmural lesions .
We sought to perform a meta- analysis of data from eligible studies to delineate the true impact of CF technology .
Pulmonary vein isolation using "contact force" ablation: the effect on dormant conduction and long-term freedom from recurrent atrial fibrillation--a prospective study.
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) is associated with PV to left atrium reconduction . Effective lesion creation necessitates adequate contact force between the ablation catheter and myocardium . OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to study the utility of contact force-guided ablation on immediate and long-term outcomes . METHODS Seventy-five patients with highly symptomatic paroxysmal AF underwent wide circumferential PVI using an irrigated-tip radiofrequency catheter . In 25 patients , ablation was guided by real-time contact force measurements ( CF group ; SmartTouch , Biosense Webster ) . A control group of 50 patients underwent  PVI using a st and ard nonforce sensing catheter ( st and ard group ; ThermoCool , Biosense Webster ) . After PVI , all patients underwent adenosine testing to unmask dormant conduction . Patients were followed up at 3 , 6 , and 12 months and by transtelephonic monitoring as well . RESULTS Dormant conduction was unmasked and subsequently eliminated in 4 PV pairs ( 8 % ; 16 % of patients ) in the CF group and 35 PV pairs ( 35 % ; 52 % of patients ) in the st and ard group ( P = .0004 per PV pair ; P = .0029 per patient ) . The single-procedure , off-antiarrhythmic drug freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmias at 1 year was 88 % in the CF group vs 66 % in the st and ard group ( P = .047 ) . Procedure duration and fluoroscopy time were significantly longer in the CF group ( P = .0038 and P = .0001 , respectively ) . CONCLUSION The use of real-time contact force guidance results in a significant reduction in the prevalence of dormant conduction with improved long-term freedom from recurrent arrhythmias . The utility of a contact force-guided approach requires evaluation in a long-term prospect i ve r and omized study
In conclusion , this meta- analysis shows that the use of CF technology decreases AF recurrence at a median follow-up of 12 months and also led to decreased use of RF during ablation .
There was no difference in total procedure length and fluoroscopy exposure
The suboptimal outcomes of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation have been attributed to lack of transmural lesions during pulmonary vein isolation .
The advent of contact force ( CF ) sensing technology enables real-time assessment of the applied force at the catheter-tissue interface and increases the chances of transmural lesions .
We sought to perform a meta- analysis of data from eligible studies to delineate the true impact of CF technology .