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Is There a Potential Benefit to Increased Irrigation Channels During Radiofrequency Ablation? Results From a Two‐Center Prospective Randomized Study
Author(s) -
KNECHT SÉBASTIEN,
SACHER FRÉDÉRIC,
FORCLAZ ANDREI,
VERBEET THIERRY,
HOCINI MÉLÈZE,
WRIGHT MATTHEW,
TRANNGOC EMMANUEL,
MORISSENS MARIELLE,
PEPERSTRAETE BÉATRICE,
DERVAL NICOLAS,
JAÏS PIERRE,
LINTON NICK,
DECOODT PIERRE,
HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL,
CASTRORODRIGUEZ JOSÉ
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2010.01945.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ablation , catheter , catheter ablation , radiofrequency catheter ablation , surgery , nuclear medicine , cardiology
Potential Benefit to Increased Irrigation Channels During Radiofrequency Ablation. Introduction: Open irrigation during radiofrequency (RF) application allows a higher power delivery in the setting of temperature‐controlled ablation, without causing blood clots. This study sought to evaluate the clinical value of the additional 6 supplementary channels at the proximal catheter tip compared to a standard irrigated RF catheter with 6 conventional channels present at the distal tip only.Methods and Results: Ninety‐five consecutive patients were prospectively randomized to cavotricuspid isthmus ablation using an 3.5 mm tip ablation catheter with 6 distal irrigation channels (6C; 48 patients) or an 4 mm tip ablation catheter with 12 irrigation channels (12C; 47 patients) disposed at the distal (6 channels) and proximal (6 additional channels) catheter tip. There was no significant difference between the 12C and the 6C irrigated‐tip catheter concerning the total procedural duration, the RF duration, the fluoroscopic duration, and the amount of irrigation. Conversely, there were significantly more patients who experienced at least one steam pop while using the 12C as compared to the 6C irrigated‐tip catheter (0% vs 13%, respectively, P = 0.018).Conclusion: The addition of proximal irrigation holes at the catheter tip do not facilitate lesion formation during RF ablation, but significantly increases the risk of steam pop. This is probably the consequence of an increase distortion of the temperature feedback . (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 516‐520 May 2011)