Pulsed field ablation using a circular electrode array catheter in patients with atrial fibrillation: A workflow optimization study evaluating the role of mapping

IF 2.5 Q2 CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS

IJC Heart and Vasculature Pub Date : 2025-03-31 DOI:10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101674

Melanie A. Gunawardene , Jens Hartmann , Jannis Dickow , Rahin Wahedi , Tim Harloff , Johanna Jezuit , Eike P. Tigges , Mario Jularic , Borislav Dinov , Nele Gessler , Stephan Willems

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) with a circular-electrode-array catheter (cPFA) has shown to be effective and safe. However, data on procedural workflow are limited.

Objective

to analyze the process of streamlining cPFA-procedures including evaluation of fluoroscopy versus 3D-map guidance and lesion characteristics.

Methods

Consecutive AF-patients underwent cPFA-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in three phases (learning-phase-I: visualization of cPFA in 3D-map; phase-II: operator blinded to 3D-map with fluoroscopy-guidance only; phase-III: optimized mapping and ablation). Additionally, hemolysis-parameters were collected.

Results

A total of 35 patients (57 % paroxysmal-AF, age 63.4 ± 9.4 years) were enrolled: n = 10 phase-I, n = 15 phase-II, n = 10 in phase III. Total procedure and fluoroscopy time was 51.9 ± 9.4 and 6.7 ± 3.1 min, respectively. First-pass PFA isolation-rate was lowest in the fluoroscopy-only phase-II (I:86 %, II:81 %, III:100 %, p = 0.0079). Insufficient PV ablation with remaining conduction occurred mostly anterior (n = 8/15, 53 %) and at the carina (n = 4/15; 27 %). Following additional PFA, all 142 PVs (100 %) were acutely isolated.

Procedure times between phase II and III did not differ (49 ± 8 vs. 46 ± 3 mins p = 0.23). Fluoroscopy times were longer in phase-II (phase-I: 5.8 ± 1.3, phase-II: 9.2 ± 2.9, phase-III: 3.8 ± 1.0 mins, p < 0.0001). No complications occurred. Pre- and post-ablation hemoglobin (14.4 ± 1.4 vs. 13.5 ± 1.2 g/dl, p = 0.0169) and LDH (188 ± 39 vs. 210 ± 29 U/l, p = 0.0007) were different.

Conclusion

The cPFA-catheter allows for fast and efficient PVI. A fluoroscopy-only approach creates distal PV ablation lesions that are associated with residual PV conduction along the carina and anterior antrum. However, with visualization and mapping, creation of wide antral ablation lesions is feasible without prolonging procedural duration.

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来源期刊

IJC Heart and Vasculature Medicine-Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

CiteScore

4.90

自引率

10.30%

发文量

216

审稿时长

56 days

期刊介绍： IJC Heart & Vasculature is an online-only, open-access journal dedicated to publishing original articles and reviews (also Editorials and Letters to the Editor) which report on structural and functional cardiovascular pathology, with an emphasis on imaging and disease pathophysiology. Articles must be authentic, educational, clinically relevant, and original in their content and scientific approach. IJC Heart & Vasculature requires the highest standards of scientific integrity in order to promote reliable, reproducible and verifiable research findings. All authors are advised to consult the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the International Journal of Cardiology before submitting a manuscript. Submission of a manuscript to this journal gives the publisher the right to publish that paper if it is accepted. Manuscripts may be edited to improve clarity and expression.