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 facilitates the achievement of an unexcitable ablation line during pulmonary vein isolation
Aims Contact force ( CF ) catheters provide catheter-tissue contact information to improve outcome of  pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ( PAF ) . We evaluated different target-CF values for achievement of the additional endpoint of an unexcitable ablation line . Methods A total of 106 patients undergoing PVI  were r and omized into three groups ( G ) ( G1 : target-CF 15 g , G2 : target-CF 10 g , G3 : CF concealed from operator ) . The PVI encircling line was divided into predefined sections . Excitable tissue along the PVI-line identified by high output pacing ( 10 V , 2 ms ) was targeted for further ablation . Results Mean average CF was 17.4 ± 4.7 g ( G1 ) vs. 12.3 ± 6.0 g ( G2 ) vs. 11.1 ± 6.5 g ( G 3 ) ( p < 0.001 ) . Primary unexcitable ablation lines were found in 38.6 , 19.4 and 5.7 % ( G1 , G2 , G3 respectively ; G1 vs. G2 p < 0.05 , G1 vs. G3 p < 0.001 , G2 vs. G3 ns ) . Additional radiofrequency (RF)-energy to achieve unexcitability was lowest in G1 ( 3.6 ± 3.1 kJ vs. 8.6 ± 7.2 kJ ( G2 ) and 10.4 ± 6.7 ( G3 ) , p ≤ 0.001 , G2 vs. G3 ns ) with accordingly lowest additional RF applications in G1 ( 3.0 ± 2.6 vs. 7.0 ± 5.4 in G2 and 8.4 ± 4.0 in G3 ; G1 vs. G2 and G3 , p < 0.001 , G 2 vs. G 3 ns ) . Sections along ablation lines with low initial CF were most likely to reveal excitability . Single procedure success was 81.9 vs. 73.5 vs. 71.4 % ( G 1 , 2 and 3 , p = 0.6 ) during 437 ± 254 day follow-up . Conclusion Higher tip-to-tissue CF during PVI facilitates the achievement of an unexcitable ablation line , requiring less additional RF-energy
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 .