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A preliminary study of pulmonary vein implant applicability and safety as a potential ablation platform in a follow‐up study in pigs
Author(s) -
Vandecasteele Tim,
Schauvliege Stijn,
Philpott Matthew,
Clement Eli,
Loon Gunther,
Vera Lisse,
Boussy Tim,
Bergen Thomas,
Den Broeck Wim,
Cornillie Pieter,
Langenhove Glenn
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/pace.13272
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary vein , ablation , atrial fibrillation , thrombus , implant , stent , vein , surgery , lung , catheter ablation , dissection (medical) , radiology , cardiology
Background Recurrence of atrial fibrillation after an ablation procedure remains a major problem which emphasizes the need for improved pulmonary vein isolation techniques. Aims The aim of this study was to describe an implantation procedure of a pulmonary vein‐stent which may possibly serve as an ablation technique in the future and to examine stent safety in a follow‐up study in pigs. Methods and results Eight pigs were catheterized and nine self‐expanding nitinol stents were implanted through a transfemoral or transatrial approach into the antra of the pulmonary veins. After 3 months’ follow‐up, the animals were euthanized for further examination. During the follow‐up phase, no complications were observed. Absence of thrombus formation or pulmonary vein wall dissection was noticed during anatomical and histological evaluation of the heart‐lung packages. All implants were almost completely covered by neo‐intima, of which thickness varied between 0.2 and 3.9 mm. Conclusions Stents can safely be positioned and deployed into the antra of the pulmonary veins without any acute or long‐term (3 months) adverse effects. In the future, these implants could function as a permanently implanted ablation device and provide new therapeutic strategies for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation.