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 .
Acute pulmonary vein reconnection is a predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence following pulmonary vein isolation
Purpose Arrhythmia recurrence following pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) occurs predominantly due to the reconnection of previously isolated pulmonary veins ( PVs ) . The prognostic implication s of detection and treatment of acute PV reconnection are not well understood . We aim to examine the prognostic significance of acute PV reconnection on arrhythmia recurrence at 1 year following PVI . Methods This prospect i ve study included 44 patients ( 22 men , 60 ± 7 years ) who underwent index PVI procedure for treatment of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) .  Acute PV reconnection  and /or dormant PV conduction were assessed sequentially in response to a 30-min waiting period , intravenous isoproterenol infusion and /or adenosine . All cases of acute PV reconnection and /or dormant conduction were successfully targeted with additional ablation . Results Freedom from AF at 1 year was 75 % ( 83.3 % in paroxysmal and 65 % in persistent AF , p = ns ) . Acute PV reconnection and /or dormant conduction were evident in 16 of 44 patients ( 36.3 % ) . AF recurrence was documented in eight of 16 patients with , but only in three of 28 patients without acute reconnection ( p = 0.009 ) . Three patients underwent a redo procedure , all from the group of patients with acute PV reconnection . In a multivariate model , acute PV reconnection was a strong independent predictor of arrhythmia recurrence ( hazards ratio [ HR ] , 6.36 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 1.12–31.6 ) . Conclusion Identification of acute PV reconnection , even when successfully targeted , is a strong predictor of arrhythmia recurrence following PVI
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 .