SIMULTANEOUS ASSESSMENT OF CONTACT PRESSURE AND LOCAL ELECTRICAL COUPLING INDEX USING ROBOTIC NAVIGATION
M. Casella, *A. Dello Russo, *G. Fassini, *F. Bologna, *O. Al-Nono, *D. Colombo, *E. Innocenti, ‡P. Santangeli, ‡L. Di Biase, *E. Russo,*M. Zucchetti,*B.Majocchi, *M. Moltrasio, *F. Tundo, *V. Marino,* C. Carbucicchio
*S. Riva, ‡J.J. Gallinghouse, ‡A. Natale, *C. Tondo*
Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Centre, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St Davids Medical Center, Austin, TX, USA
Introduction: Contact with tissue is a critical determinant of lesion efficacy during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. The electrical coupling index (ECI) from the EnSite Contact™ system has been validated as an indicator oftissue lesion depth. In our study we aimed at analyzing ECI behavior during ablation maintaining a stable contactthrough the robotic Sensei X system.
Methods: 15 patients undergoing AF ablation were enrolled. Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation was guided by the Sensei
X™ system, employing the Contact™ catheter.
Results: A total of 58 PVs were targeted and successfully isolated, while keeping contact force of 20-40 grams. In all PVs the ECI wassignificantly reduced during and after ablation (baseline ECI 99±18; ECI during RF 56±15; ECI immediately after RF 72±16; p <0.001). A mean reduction of 32% during RF delivery and 25% after RF stoppage compared to baseline ECI was observed.
Conclusions: Successful PV isolation with good contact, as monitored by the Sensei X system,is associated with a significant decrease in ECI of 25%. This may be used as a surrogate marker of effective lesion
