TY - JOUR
T1 - Locations of high contact force during left atrial mapping in atrial fibrillation patients
T2 - Electrogram amplitude and impedance are poor predictors of electrode-tissue contact force for ablation of atrial fibrillation
AU - Nakagawa, Hiroshi
AU - Kautzner, Josef
AU - Natale, Andrea
AU - Peichl, Petr
AU - Cihak, Robert
AU - Wichterle, Dan
AU - Ikeda, Atsushi
AU - Santangeli, Pasquale
AU - Di Biase, Luigi
AU - Jackman, Warren M.
PY - 2013/8
Y1 - 2013/8
N2 - Background-During radiofrequency ablation, high electrode-tissue contact force (CF) is associated with increased risk of steam pop and perforation. The purpose of this study, in patients undergoing ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, was to: (1) identify factors producing high CF during left atrial (LA) and pulmonary vein mapping; (2) determine the ability of atrial potential amplitude and impedance to predict CF; and (3) explore the feasibility of controlling radiofrequency power based on CF. Methods and Results-A high-density map of LA/pulmonary veins (median 328 sites) was obtained in 18 patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation using a 7.5-Fr irrigated mapping/ablation catheter to measure CF. Average CF was displayed on the 3D map. For 5682 mapped sites, CF ranged 1-144 g (median 8.2 g). High CF (≥35 g) was observed at only 118/5682 (2%) sites, clustering in 6 LA regions. The most common high CF site (48/113 sites in 17/18 patients) was located at the anterior/rightward LA roof, directly beneath the ascending aorta (confirmed by merging the CT image and map). Poor relationship between CF and either unipolar amplitude, bipolar amplitude, or impedance was observed. During ablation, radiofrequency power was modulated based on CF. All pulmonary veins were isolated without steam pop, impedance rise, or pericardial effusion. Conclusions-High CF often occurs at anterior/rightward roof, where the ascending aorta provides resistance to the LA. Atrial potential amplitude and impedance are poor predictors of CF. Controlling radiofrequency power based on CF seems to prevent steam pop and impedance rise without loss of lesion effectiveness.
AB - Background-During radiofrequency ablation, high electrode-tissue contact force (CF) is associated with increased risk of steam pop and perforation. The purpose of this study, in patients undergoing ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, was to: (1) identify factors producing high CF during left atrial (LA) and pulmonary vein mapping; (2) determine the ability of atrial potential amplitude and impedance to predict CF; and (3) explore the feasibility of controlling radiofrequency power based on CF. Methods and Results-A high-density map of LA/pulmonary veins (median 328 sites) was obtained in 18 patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation using a 7.5-Fr irrigated mapping/ablation catheter to measure CF. Average CF was displayed on the 3D map. For 5682 mapped sites, CF ranged 1-144 g (median 8.2 g). High CF (≥35 g) was observed at only 118/5682 (2%) sites, clustering in 6 LA regions. The most common high CF site (48/113 sites in 17/18 patients) was located at the anterior/rightward LA roof, directly beneath the ascending aorta (confirmed by merging the CT image and map). Poor relationship between CF and either unipolar amplitude, bipolar amplitude, or impedance was observed. During ablation, radiofrequency power was modulated based on CF. All pulmonary veins were isolated without steam pop, impedance rise, or pericardial effusion. Conclusions-High CF often occurs at anterior/rightward roof, where the ascending aorta provides resistance to the LA. Atrial potential amplitude and impedance are poor predictors of CF. Controlling radiofrequency power based on CF seems to prevent steam pop and impedance rise without loss of lesion effectiveness.
KW - Atrial fibrillation
KW - Catheter ablation
KW - Electrophysiology mapping
KW - Radiofrequency
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U2 - 10.1161/CIRCEP.113.978320
DO - 10.1161/CIRCEP.113.978320
M3 - Article
C2 - 23873143
AN - SCOPUS:84884505052
SN - 1941-3149
VL - 6
SP - 746
EP - 753
JO - Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology
JF - Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology
IS - 4
ER -