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First clinical experience of a dedicated irrigated-tip radiofrequency ablation catheter for the ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter

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Abstract

Background

Different types of irrigated-tip ablation catheters are available for ablation of atrial flutter (AFL). The aim of this study was to compare an established with a novel dedicated Gold irrigated-tip catheter for ablation of AFL.

Methods and results

We compared consecutive patients undergoing ablation of AFL using a standard 3.5 mm irrigated-tip platinum–iridium (Pt–Ir) catheter (Thermocool, TC-group) and a 3.5 mm irrigated gold-tip catheter (Gold-group) specifically designed for cavotricuspid isthmus ablation (CTI). The primary endpoint was acute efficacy (net RF time) to achieve block across the CTI. Secondary endpoints included procedure time, fluoroscopy duration, complications, and recurrence of AFL.153 patients (age 68 ± 11 years, 74% male) were included. Net RF time to achieve CTI block was not different between the TC-group (793 ± 503 s) and the Gold-group (706 ± 422 s; p = 0.406). Total procedure time was not significantly different between the TC-group (70 ± 26 min) and the Gold-group (70 ± 27 min; p = 0.769). A significant difference between the groups was identified for the fluoroscopy duration (TC-group: 934 ± 537 s, Gold-group: 596 ± 362 s, p < 0.001). There were no major complications observed in the groups. Recurrence of AFL occurred in 3 of 66 (5%) in the TC-group and in 2 of 87 (2%) in the Gold-group (p = 0.652).

Conclusions

In conclusion, acute and chronic efficacy of the irrigated Pt–Ir and gold-tip catheters were comparable. However, the dedicated catheter design was associated with decreased fluoroscopy duration.

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Author notes

  1. Sven Knecht and Fabian Burch contributed equally to this manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology/Electrophysiology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Sven Knecht, Fabian Burch, Tobias Reichlin, Florian Spies, Aline Mühl, Beat Schaer, Stefan Osswald, Christian Sticherling & Michael Kühne

  2. Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Sven Knecht, Tobias Reichlin, Florian Spies, Aline Mühl, Beat Schaer, Stefan Osswald, Christian Sticherling & Michael Kühne

  3. Cardiology/Electrophysiology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    David Altmann & Peter Ammann

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  1. Sven Knecht
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  2. Fabian Burch
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  3. Tobias Reichlin
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  4. Florian Spies
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  5. Aline Mühl
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  6. David Altmann
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  7. Peter Ammann
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  8. Beat Schaer
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  9. Stefan Osswald
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  10. Christian Sticherling
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  11. Michael Kühne
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Kühne.

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Conflict of interest

Sven Knecht—received compensation for advisory boards with Boston Scientific and Biotronik. Fabian Burch—no conflict of interest. Aline Mühl—no conflict of interest. Florian Spies—no conflict of interest. Tobias Reichlin—no conflict of interest. Beat Schaer—no conflict of interest. David Altmann—no conflict of interest. Peter Ammann—no conflict of interest. Stefan Osswald—no conflict of interest. Christian Sticherling—Advisory Board of Medtronic and Biotronik, received educational grants from Biotronik and research Grant from Biosense Webster (outside the submitted work). Michael Kühne—proctor for Medtronic, speakers bureau for Boston Scientific, St Jude Medical, and Biotronik.

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No funding.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Knecht, S., Burch, F., Reichlin, T. et al. First clinical experience of a dedicated irrigated-tip radiofrequency ablation catheter for the ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter. Clin Res Cardiol 107, 281–286 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-017-1180-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-017-1180-4

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