1244Feasibility, safety and efficacy of tailoring ablation index to left atrial wall thickness (lawt) during atrial fibrillation ablation. The Ablate By-LAW Study. (18th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Teres, C; Jauregui, B; Soto-Iglesias, D; Ordonez, A; Chauca, A; Ramirez, C; Oller, G; Jornet, A; Palet, J; Padro, J; Maldonado, G; Panaro, A; Carballo, J; Penela, D; Berruezo, A
• Is Part Of: Europace. Volume 22(2020)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2020-06-18
• Subjects: Arrhythmia -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Cardiac pacing -- Periodicals; Catheter ablation -- Periodicals; Heart -- Physiology -- Periodicals; Electrophysiology -- Periodicals; 617.4120645
• DOI: 10.1093/europace/euaa162.238
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1099-5129

Abstract

Abstract: Funding Acknowledgements: Dr Teres was funded by Swiss Heartrhythm Foundation Introduction: Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has become a mainstay in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The utility of ablation index (AI) to dose radiofrequency delivery for the reduction of AF recurrences has already been proven with a target AI ≥ 400 at the posterior wall and ≥550 at the anterior Wall. Nevertheless, the left atrial wall is a thin, heterogeneous structure with an important inter and intra-patient variability of LAWT. Objective: To determine if adapting AI to atrial wall thickness (AWT) is feasible, effective and safe during AF ablation. Methods: Single-Center study that included 80 consecutive patients referred for a first paroxysmal AF ablation that was performed with a single catheter approach with the intention to reduce vascular access complication rate. All patients had a MDCT prior to the ablation procedure. LAWT maps were semi-automatically computed from the MDCT as the local distance between the LA endo and epicardium. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia with a high-rate low-volume ventilation protocol for obtaining higher catheter stability. The transeptal puncture was TEE-guided. During the procedure, the WT map was fused with the LA anatomy using CARTO-merge. LAWT was categorized into 1mm-layers and the AI was titrated to the local atrial WT as follows: Thickness < 1 mm (red): 300; 1-2 mm (yellow): 350; 2-3 mm (green): 400; 3-4 mm (blue): 450; > 4 mm (purple): 450 (Figure). Maximal inter-lesion distance was set at 6 mm. VisiTag settings were: catheter position stability: minimum time 3 s, maximum range 4 mm; force over time: 25%, minimum force 3 g; lesion tag size: 3 mm. Respiration training was not possible due to the high catheter stability. The circumferential ablation line was designed in a personalized fashion to avoid thicker regions. Results: 80 patients [41 (51, 2 %) male, age 60± 11 years] were included. Mean LVEF was 59 ± 5 %, Mean LA diameter 39, 1 ± 5, 8 mm, Mean LAWT was 1.36 ± 0.63 mm. Mean AI was 352 ± 36 on the RPVs and 356 ± 36 on the LPVs. Procedure time was 60, 0 min (IQR 51-70). Fluoroscopy time was 58, 5 s (35-97, 5). First pass isolation was obtained in 72 (90%) of the RPVs and 75 (93, 8%) of the LPVs. Conclusions: the present study, assessing a novel, personalized protocol for radiofrequency titration during atrial fibrillation ablation, shows a high rate of first pass isolation with a lower need for RF energy delivery and lower procedure requirements, as compared to previous PV ablation protocols. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term results of this approach.