Submit Manuscript    >>    Login | Register

Prospective Evaluation of Lesion Index-Guided Pulmonary Vein Isolation Technique in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: 1-Year Follow-Up.


Introduction Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using contact force (CF) sensing ablation catheters currently relies on CF and force-time integral (FTI) guidelines. Such measurement of lesion effectiveness still lacks information on current delivery to the tissue, influenced by system impedance and power. Lesion Index (LSI) is a multi-parametric index incorporating CF and radiofrequency current data across time. We aimed to prospectively assess safety and efficacy of an LSI-guided approach to PVI in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Methods and results The study prospectively enrolled 28 consecutive patients with PAF undergoing PVI with a CF sensing catheter (TactiCathTM, Abbott). LSI-guided ablation target was adapted according to the mean regional thickness of pulmonary vein antra (PVA): LSI range 5.5-6 was pursued in the anterior and septal portions of PVA, 5-5.5 elsewhere. Data from 32 consecutive PAF patients who underwent PVI ablation with a non-CF guided approach (NCF-group) were retrospectively collected for comparison of procedural and clinical outcome. AF-free survival rate at follow-up (17±6 months) was higher for LSI-guided group than NCF-group (89.3% vs 65.6%, p=0.037), with no increase in periprocedural complication rate (no tamponades or other major adverse events reported). Among 1126 lesions with LSI within target range (5-6), average CF was >10g and <30g for 976 lesions (86.7%). Moreover, 1015 lesions (90.1%) had FTI>400gs, but with wide distribution: 30.2% within 400-500gs, 30.0% within 501-600gs, 29.9% over 600gs. Conclusion In this first prospective study, LSI-guided PVI improved clinical outcome without any increase in complication rate when compared with standard, non-LSI-guided approach.

Credits: Luca De Mattia, Martino Crosato, Stefano Indiani, Elena Causin, Claudia Licciardello, Paolo Antonio Maria Squasi, Alessandro De Leo, Vittorio Calzolari


Biosense Webster
event date
Introduction to AFib
Ablation Specialist

View Ablation Specialists