scholarly journals Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial of Wide Area Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Ablation versus Segmental Pulmonary Vein Ablation for Pulmonary Vein Isolation as a Treatment for Short-Duration Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Author(s):  
Sapan Bhuta ◽  
Gustaf Sverin ◽  
Hiro Kawata ◽  
Malek Bashti ◽  
Jessica Hunter ◽  
...  

Background: Previous studies suggest that wide area circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (WACA) is more effective than segmental pulmonary vein ablation (SPVA) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for treatment of atrial fibrillation. Whether this is true in patients (pts) with very short duration paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is unknown. Objective: To compare WACA to SPVA in pts with PAF lasting <48 hours. Methods: One hundred pts with PAF <48 hours were randomized to either WACA vs SPVA (45 and 53 pts respectively, with 2 withdrawals), and followed up for 24 months with 14-day ECGs every 6 months. Results: Among 97 pts at an average of 22.1±4.8 months followup, 26 (57.8%) remained free of any atrial arrhythmias after WACA versus 29 (55.86%) after SPVA (p=0.64). Sixteen pts (35.6%) had recurrent PAF after WACA versus 20 pts (38.5%) after SPVA (p=0.79). Seven pts (15.6%) had atrial flutter after WACA versus 5 pts (9.64%) after SPVA (p=0.376) and 1 pt (2.2%) had atrial tachycardia after WACA vs 1 pt (1.9%) after SPVA (p=0.918). Total procedure time was lower for SPVA vs WACA (242.9 vs 271.1 minutes, p= 0.047), and fluoroscopy time similar for WACA vs SPVA (50.8 vs 53.4 minutes, p=0.555). Conclusions: As an initial ablation approach in pts with PAF <48 hours, SPVA was similarly effective to WACA with respect to arrhythmia recurrence, supporting the central role of the pulmonary veins for maintaining AF in these pts. Future therapies using alternative ablation energies may incorporate these insights to reduce risk to gastroesophageal structures.

EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A P Martin ◽  
M Fowler ◽  
N Lever

Abstract Background Pulmonary vein isolation using cryotherapy is an established treatment for the management of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Ablation using the commercially available balloon cryocatheter has been shown to create wide antral pulmonary vein isolation. A novel balloon cryocatheter (BCC) has been designed to maintain uniform pressure and size during ablation, potentially improving contact with the antral anatomy. The extent of ablation created using the novel BCC has not previously been established. Purpose To determine the anatomical extent of pulmonary vein isolation using electroanatomical mapping when performing catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using the novel BCC. Methods Nine consecutive patients underwent pre-procedure computed tomography angiography of the left atrium to quantify the chamber dimensions. An electroanatomical map was created using the cryoablation system mapping catheter and a high definition mapping system. A bipolar voltage map was obtained following ablation to determine the extent of pulmonary vein isolation ablation. A volumetric technique was used to quantify the extent of vein and posterior wall electrical isolation in addition to traditional techniques for proving entrance and exit block. Results All patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, mean age 56 years, 7 (78%) male. Electrical isolation was achieved for 100% of the pulmonary veins; mean total procedure time was 109 min (+/- 26 SD), and fluoroscopy time 14.9 min (+/- 2.4 SD). The median treatment applications per vein was one (range one - four), and median treatment duration 180 sec (range 180 -240). Left atrial volume 32 mL/m2 (+/- 7 SD), and mean left atrial posterior wall area 22 cm2 (+/- 4 SD). Data was available for quantitative assessment of the extent of ablation for eight patients. No lesions (0 of 32) were ostial in nature. The antral surface area of ablation was not statistically different between the left and right sided pulmonary veins (p 0.63), which were 5.9 (1.6 SD) and 5.4 (2.1 SD) cm2 respectively. In total 50% of the posterior left atrial wall was ablated.  Conclusion Pulmonary vein isolation using a novel BCC provides a wide and antral lesion set. There is significant debulking of the posterior wall of the left atrium. Abstract Figure.


Author(s):  
Filip Casselman ◽  
Ihsan Bakir ◽  
Pedro Brugada ◽  
Peter Geelen ◽  
Francis Wellens ◽  
...  

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and results of isolated endoscopic pulmonary vein isolation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using robotics. Methods Between November 2004 and December 2005, 13 patients (38.5% female) underwent robotic pulmonary vein isolation at our institution. Mean age was 46.8 ± 8.4 years and mean preoperative duration of atrial fibrillation was 52.7 ±31.5 months. Indication for surgery was symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or recurrence after percutaneous treatment (n = 3). Mean preoperative left atrial dimension was 38.5 ± 6.9 mm. The surgical procedure was performed off-pump as an isolated right chest approach. All procedures were performed using the Flex 10 microwave ablator (Guidant, Indianapolis, IN), which was positioned from the right side through the transverse sinus and around the 4 pulmonary veins. Postoperative drug regimen included sotalol and Coumadin. Mean follow-up was 8.5 ± 3.4 months. Results The procedure was successful in 11 patients. One patient needed conversion to median sternotomy for right pulmonary artery bleeding and a second patient had severe transverse sinus adhesions requiring conversion to a bilateral video-assisted small thoracotomy approach. No other morbidity occurred. Mean procedure time in successful cases was 2.7 ± 0.8 hours (range 1.7 to 4 hours). Permanent sinus rhythm was successfully restored in 10 of 13 patients (76.9% beyond 6 months). Nonsuccessful patients had markedly reduced symptoms and frequency of events. One patient required a left and another a right atrial flutter ablation during follow-up. Conclusions Robotic pulmonary vein isolation is a feasible procedure that has the potential to become a valid option in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.


EP Europace ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 388-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Kottmaier ◽  
Miruna Popa ◽  
Felix Bourier ◽  
Tilko Reents ◽  
Jairo Cifuentes ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is effective but hampered by pulmonary vein reconnection due to insufficient ablation lesions. High-power delivery over a short period of time (HPSD) in RFA is stated to create more efficient lesions. The aim of this study was to compare intraprocedural safety and outcome of HPSD ablation to conventional power settings in patients undergoing PVI for PAF. Methods and results We included 197 patients with PAF that were scheduled for PVI. An ablation protocol with 70 W and a duration cut-off of 7 s at the anterior left atrium (LA) and 5 s at the posterior LA (HPSD group; n = 97) was compared to a conventional power protocol with 30–40 W for 20–40 s (standard group; n = 100) in terms of periprocedural complications and a 1-year outcome. The HPSD group showed significantly less arrhythmia recurrence during 1-year follow-up with 83.1% of patients free from atrial fibrillation compared to 65.1% in the standard group (P &lt; 0.013). No pericardial tamponade, periprocedural thromboembolic complications, or atrio-oesophageal fistula occurred in either group. Mean radiofrequency time (12.4 ± 3.4 min vs. 35.6 ± 12.1 min) and procedural time (89.5 ± 23.9 min vs. 111.15 ± 27.9 min) were significantly shorter in the HPSD group compared to the standard group (both P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion High-power short-duration ablation demonstrated a comparable safety profile to conventional ablation. High-power short-duration ablation using 70 W for 5–7 s leads to significantly less arrhythmia recurrences after 1 year. Radiofrequency and procedural time were significantly shortened.


Author(s):  
Samuel K. Sørensen ◽  
Arne Johannessen ◽  
René Worck ◽  
Morten L. Hansen ◽  
Jim Hansen

Background - Recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) after catheter ablation is presumably caused by failure to achieve durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The primary methods of PVI are radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon (CRYO) catheter ablation, but these methods have not been directly compared with respect to PVI durability and the effect thereof on AF burden (% of time in AF). Methods - Accordingly, we performed a randomized trial including 98 patients (68% male, 61 [55-67] years) with PAF assigned 1:1 to PVI by contact-force sensing, irrigated RF catheter or second-generation CRYO catheter. Implantable cardiac monitors were inserted ≥1 month before PVI for assessment of AF burden and recurrence, and all patients, irrespective of AF recurrence, underwent a second procedure 4-6 months after PVI to determine PVI durability. Results - In the second procedure, 152/199 (76%) pulmonary veins (PVs) were found durably isolated after RF and 161/200 (81%) after CRYO (NS), corresponding to durable isolation of all veins in 47% of patients in both groups (NS). Median AF burden before PVI was 5.4% (interquartile range: 0.5-13.0%) vs. 4.0% (0.6-18.1%), RF vs. CRYO, and reduced to 0.0% (0.0-0.1%) and 0.0% (0.0-0.5%), respectively - a reduction of 99.9% (92.9-100.0%) and 99.3% (85.9-100.0%) (all NS). AF burden after PVI significantly correlated to the number of durably isolated PVs (p < 0.01), but 9/45 (20%) patients with durable isolation of all veins had recurrence of AF within 4-6 months after PVI (excluding a 3-month blanking period). Conclusions - PVI by RF and CRYO catheter ablation produce similar moderate to high PVI durability. Both treatments lead to marked reductions in AF burden, which is related to the number of durably isolated PVs. However, for one fifth of PAF patients, complete and durable PVI was not sufficient to prevent even short-term AF recurrence.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document