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Published in: Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology 1/2018

Open Access 01-06-2018

Atrial fibrillation ablation using very short duration 50 W ablations and contact force sensing catheters

Authors: Roger A. Winkle, Ryan Moskovitz, R. Hardwin Mead, Gregory Engel, Melissa H. Kong, William Fleming, Jonathan Salcedo, Rob A. Patrawala, John H. Tranter, Isaac Shai

Published in: Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

The optimal radiofrequency (RF) power and lesion duration using contact force (CF) sensing catheters for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation are unknown. We evaluate 50 W RF power for very short durations using CF sensing catheters during AF ablation.

Methods

We evaluated 51 patients with paroxysmal (n = 20) or persistent (n = 31) AF undergoing initial RF ablation.

Results

A total of 3961 50 W RF lesions were given (average 77.6 ± 19.1/patient) for an average duration of only 11.2 ± 3.7 s. As CF increased from < 10 to > 40 g, the RF application duration decreased from 13.7 ± 4.4 to 8.6 ± 2.5 s (p < 0.0005). Impedance drops occurred in all ablations, and for patients in sinus rhythm, there was loss of pacing capture during RF delivery suggesting lesion creation. Only 3% of the ablation lesions were at < 5 g and 1% at > 40 g of force. As CF increased, the force time integral (FTI) increased from 47 ± 24 to 376 ± 102 gs (p < 0.0005) and the lesion index (LSI) increased from 4.10 ± 0.51 to 7.63 ± 0.50 (p < 0.0005). Both procedure time (101 ± 19.7 min) and total RF energy time (895 ± 258 s) were very short. For paroxysmal AF, the single procedure freedom from AF was 86% at 1 and 2 years. For persistent AF, it was 83% at 1 year and 72% at 2 years. There were no complications.

Conclusions

Short duration 50 W ablations using CF sensing catheters are safe and result in excellent long-term freedom from AF for both paroxysmal and persistent AF with short procedure times and small amounts of total RF energy delivery.
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Metadata
Title
Atrial fibrillation ablation using very short duration 50 W ablations and contact force sensing catheters
Authors
Roger A. Winkle
Ryan Moskovitz
R. Hardwin Mead
Gregory Engel
Melissa H. Kong
William Fleming
Jonathan Salcedo
Rob A. Patrawala
John H. Tranter
Isaac Shai
Publication date
01-06-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 1383-875X
Electronic ISSN: 1572-8595
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-018-0322-6

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