Background High power short duration (HPSD) radiofrequency-ablation
(RFA) is highly efficient and safe while reducing procedure and RF time
in pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The QDot-catheter is a novel
contact-force ablation catheter that allows automated flow and power
adjustments depending on the local tissue temperature to maintain a
target temperature during 90watts/4seconds lesions. We analysed
intraprocedural data and periprocedural safety using the QDot-catheter
in patients undergoing PVI for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).
Methods We included n=48 patients undergoing PVI with the QDot-catheter
with a temperature controlled HPSD ablation mode with 90watts/4seconds
(TC-HPSD). If focal reconnection occurred besides repeat ablation the
ablation mode was changed to 50watts/15seconds (QMode). N=23 patients
underwent cerebral MRI to detect silent cerebral lesions. Results Mean
RF-time was 8.1+/-2.8min, procedure-duration was 84.5+/-30min. The
overall maximal measured catheter-tip temperature was 52.0°C +/- 4.6°C,
mean overall applied current was 871mA +/-44mA and over all applied
energy was 316J +/-47J. The mean local impedance-drop was 12.1 +/- 2.4
Ohms. During Adenosine challenge n=14 (29%) patients showed dormant
conduction. A total of n=24 steam pops were detected in n=18 patients
(39.1%), while no pericardial tamponade occurred. No periprocedural
thromboembolic complications occurred, while n=4 patients (17.4%)
showed silent cerebral lesion. Conclusion TC-HPSD ablation with
90watts/4seconds using the QDot-catheter led to a reduction of procedure
and RF time, while no major complications occurred. Despite optimized
temperature control and power adjustment steam pops occurred in a rather
high number of patients, while none of them lead to tamponade or to
clinical or neurological deficits.
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