Conclusion Meta- analysis of r and omized data demonstrated that CF guidance does not improve the safety or efficacy of AF ablation , despite initial observational data showing dramatic improvement .
Aims Despite widespread adoption of contact force ( CF ) sensing technology in atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation , r and omized data suggests lack of improvement in clinical outcomes .
We aim ed to assess the safety and efficacy of CF-guided vs. non CF-guided AF ablation .
Impact of Contact Force Monitoring in Acute Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using an Anatomic Approach. A Randomized Study.
BACKGROUND The impact of contact force ( CF ) monitoring in pulmonary vein ( PV ) isolation after a circumferential anatomic ablation ( CAA ) is unknown . We analyze the usefulness of CF monitoring in acute PV isolation and procedure parameters using a CAA . METHODS Fifty patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were r and omized into CF-on ( CF > 10 grams ; n = 25 ) or CF-off ( CF blinded ; n = 25 ) groups . We performed a first round of CAA with a ThermoCool ( ® ) SmartTouch ( ® ) catheter blinded to the LASSO ( ® ) catheter ( Biosense Webster , Diamond Bar , CA , USA ) , with radiofrequency ( RF ) lesions tagged with the VisiTag ( ™ ) Module . After the CAA , each PV was review ed with the LASSO ( ® ) catheter recording the segments with gaps . RESULTS All the PVs were isolated with a CAA in 20 patients of the CF-on versus eight of the CF-off ( P = 0.001 ) . Of the 45 segments with gaps in the left PVs , 38 were from the CF-off ( P = 0.0001 ) . Of the eight segments with gaps in the right PVs , seven were from the CF-off ( P = 0.06 ) . The CF in the left PVs was higher in the CF-on ( 16.3 ± 3.2 grams vs 10.5 ± 4.3 grams ; P = 0.0001 ) and similar in the right PVs ( 17.6 ± 3.6 grams vs 15.2 ± 5.3 grams ; P = 0.08 ) . All of the gaps were closed with additional RF LASSO ( ® ) -guided touch-up . Procedure and fluoroscopy times were shorter in the CF-on ( 139 ± 24 minutes vs 157 ± 32 minutes and 20 ± 6 minutes vs 24 ± 7 minutes ; both P = 0.039 ) . At 12 months the patients free of AF recurrence was 84 % CF-on versus 75 % CF-off ( log-rank P = 0.4 ) [ corrected ] . CONCLUSIONS In paroxysmal atrial fibrillation , a CAA guided by CF reduces PV gaps and shortens the procedure parameters at the expense of the left PVs
Conclusion Meta- analysis of r and omized data demonstrated that CF guidance does not improve the safety or efficacy of AF ablation , despite initial observational data showing dramatic improvement .
Aims Despite widespread adoption of contact force ( CF ) sensing technology in atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation , r and omized data suggests lack of improvement in clinical outcomes .
We aim ed to assess the safety and efficacy of CF-guided vs. non CF-guided AF ablation .