Erschienen in:
Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 25 (2014) 2, Seite 130-137
Sprache:
Englisch
DOI:
10.1111/jce.12303
ISSN:
1045-3873;
1540-8167
Entstehung:
Anmerkungen:
Beschreibung:
Real‐Time Contact Force Sensing for Pulmonary Vein IsolationIntroductionThe additional benefit of contact force (CF) technology during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) to improve mid‐term clinical outcome is unclear.Methods and ResultsEligible patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF were enrolled in this prospective trial, comparing circular antral catheter ablation (guided by Carto 3 System, Biosense Webster) using either a new open‐irrigated CF catheter (SmartTouch Thermocool, Biosense Webster) (CF group) or a non‐CF open‐irrigated catheter (EZ Steer Thermocool, Biosense Webster) (control group). Overall, 30 patients were enrolled in each group, with a standardized 12‐month follow‐up, free of antiarrhythmic therapy. Demographic, cardiovascular and anatomic characteristics were similar in both groups. Though complete PVI was eventually achieved in all cases in both groups, success using an exclusive anatomic approach was 80.0% in CF group versus 36.7% in control group (P < 0.0001). CF use was associated with significant reductions in fluoroscopy exposure (P < 0.01) and radiofrequency time (P = 0.01). The incidence rates of AF recurrence were 10.5% (95% CI, 1.38–22.4) in the CF group, and 35.9% (95% CI, 12.4–59.4) in the control group (log rank test, P = 0.04). After adjustment on potential confounders, the use of CF catheter was found to be associated with a lower AF recurrence (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04–0.94, P = 0.04).ConclusionOur findings suggest a potential benefit of real‐time CF sensing technology, in reducing AF recurrence during the first year after PVI.