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 .
Randomized trial comparing pulmonary vein isolation using the SmartTouch catheter with or without real-time contact force data.
BACKGROUND Contact force ( CF ) information may improve the safety and efficacy of ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ( PAF ) . OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of CF data on ablation for PAF . METHODS Patients undergoing first-time PAF ablation were r and omized at 7 UK centers to ablation with ( CF-on ) or without ( CF-off ) CF data available to the operator , using the same ablation catheter and mapping system . An ablation CF of 5 - 40 g was targeted . Pulmonary vein ( PV ) reconnection was assessed with adenosine at 60 minutes . Follow-up for arrhythmia recurrence was for 1 year with 7-day Holter recordings at 6 and 12 months . RESULTS One hundred seventeen patients were studied ( 59 CF-on , 58 CF-off ) . In the CF-on group , a reduction in acute PV reconnection rates ( 22 % vs 32 % , P = .03 ) but no significant difference in 1-year success rates off antiarrhythmic drugs ( 49 % vs 52 % , P = .9 ) was observed . There was no difference in major complication rates : 2 of 59 ( 3 % ) CF-on , 3 of 58 ( 5 % ) CF-off ( P = .7 ) . Procedural and fluoroscopy times were not significantly different ( P>.5 ) . Overall mean CFs per ablation were not different between groups ( 13.4 [9.1 - 19.6]g CF-on , 13.4 [7.4 - 22.4]g CF-off , P = .5 ) , but a greater proportion of readings in the CF-on group were in the target range ( 80 % vs 68 % , P<.001 ) . CONCLUSION This r and omized multicenter study demonstrated that CF data availability was associated with reduced acute PV reconnection but not improved 1-year success rates , procedural and fluoroscopy times , or complication rates . There was a reduction in extremes of CF , above and below the study target range , suggesting greater CF control during 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 .