Stefan Weber1,2, Martin Höher3, Dominik Schultes3. 1. Klinikum Bayreuth, Department of Cardiology and Electrophysiology, Bayreuth, Germany. stefan.weber@klinik.uni-regensburg.de. 2. University of Regensburg and Praxis für Kardiologie und Rhythmologie, Weichser Weg 5, 93059, Regensburg, Germany. stefan.weber@klinik.uni-regensburg.de. 3. Klinikum Bayreuth, Department of Cardiology and Electrophysiology, Bayreuth, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Pulmonary vein isolation with radiofrequency energy is widely used as a strategy for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Anatomically designed catheters have been developed to increase the efficiency of AF ablation procedures. The second-generation circular ablation catheter, PVAC GOLD, was re-designed to improve energy delivery and mitigate emboli. We investigated the procedural efficiency, biophysics, and chronic efficacy of PVAC GOLD in patients with AF. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 40 patients (60 ± 11 years) with highly symptomatic, drug refractory AF. The first 20 patients were treated with the first-generation PVAC. The subsequent 20 patients were treated with the second-generation PVAC GOLD catheter. All patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: All 164 targeted PVs were successfully isolated. Ablations performed with PVAC GOLD showed a significant reduction in total number of ablations needed for PVI, fluoroscopy, and procedure times compared to PVAC (34.7 ± 7.0 vs. 27.0 ± 6.5; p = 0.009), fluoroscopy (29.5 ± 9.5 vs. 23.4 ± 7.0; p = 0.026), and procedure time (93.8 ± 18.9 vs. 83.1 ± 10.6; p = 0.033). PVAC GOLD showed improved biophysics including a reduction of low power ablations and an increase in mean effective energy delivery. At 12 months follow-up, AF recurrence rates were comparable in the two groups (35 vs. 30 %; p = 0.735). There were no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The redesigned PVAC GOLD catheter demonstrates a reduction in radiofrequency ablation and procedure time and improved biophysics while maintaining chronic efficacy compared to the first-generation PVAC.
PURPOSE: Pulmonary vein isolation with radiofrequency energy is widely used as a strategy for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Anatomically designed catheters have been developed to increase the efficiency of AF ablation procedures. The second-generation circular ablation catheter, PVAC GOLD, was re-designed to improve energy delivery and mitigate emboli. We investigated the procedural efficiency, biophysics, and chronic efficacy of PVAC GOLD in patients with AF. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 40 patients (60 ± 11 years) with highly symptomatic, drug refractory AF. The first 20 patients were treated with the first-generation PVAC. The subsequent 20 patients were treated with the second-generation PVAC GOLD catheter. All patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: All 164 targeted PVs were successfully isolated. Ablations performed with PVAC GOLD showed a significant reduction in total number of ablations needed for PVI, fluoroscopy, and procedure times compared to PVAC (34.7 ± 7.0 vs. 27.0 ± 6.5; p = 0.009), fluoroscopy (29.5 ± 9.5 vs. 23.4 ± 7.0; p = 0.026), and procedure time (93.8 ± 18.9 vs. 83.1 ± 10.6; p = 0.033). PVAC GOLD showed improved biophysics including a reduction of low power ablations and an increase in mean effective energy delivery. At 12 months follow-up, AF recurrence rates were comparable in the two groups (35 vs. 30 %; p = 0.735). There were no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The redesigned PVAC GOLD catheter demonstrates a reduction in radiofrequency ablation and procedure time and improved biophysics while maintaining chronic efficacy compared to the first-generation PVAC.
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