title: [Role of power and temperature monitoring in radiofrequency ablation].
abstract: Variations of temperature, impedance and power and the relationship between these three factors were studied in 20 patients during 351 applications of radiofrequency energy delivered by a generator with a regulated output power. The applications were divided into 3 groups according to the maximal temperature attained: group I (< 50 degrees C; n = 112), group II (50-60 degrees C; n = 100), and group III (60-70 degrees C; n = 139). Analysis of the total duration of time of applications (average +/- standard deviation) showed: the duration (seconds) was 23.9 +/- 11.9 seconds for group I, 36.1 +/- 18.7 seconds for group II and 45 +/- 23.6 seconds for group III. The time to attain maximal temperature was 6.8 +/- 9.6 seconds in group I, 11.7 +/- 12.7 in group II and 10 +/- 10.4 seconds in group III. The impedance remained under 200 omega in all applications, the target temperature being set at 70 degrees C. Analysis of the first three seconds of application: correlations coefficients between temperature and impedance were -0.08 (p < 0.001) in group I and -0.23 (p < 0.0001) in groups II and III. These coefficients were recalculated with respect to the average power delivered during the applications: < 40 watts (n = 79), r = -0.33; < 30 watts (n = 55), r = -0.41; < 20 watts (n = 33), r = 0.49 and < 10 watts (n = 15), r = -0.7 (p < 0.0001). The authors conclude that radiofrequency generators with thermal regulation allow early interruption of ineffective applications of radiofrequency and avoid increases in impedance. The poor correlations observed between increase in temperature (measured at the tip of the catheter) and the fall in impedance (related to tissue heating) for the first 3 groups, show that temperature alone is not a good indicator of contact. The improvement of the correlations for decreasing output power applications indicates better thermal transfer between the electrode and endocardium. Therefore a low power delivered in the first seconds at > 50 degrees C is to be interpreted as a marker of the quality of contact and a predictive factor of efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Centre de stimulation cardiaque et de rythmologie, hôpital Jean-Rostand, Ivry-sur-Seine.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Halimi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tonet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fontaine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Rôle de la puissance et de la régulation thermique dans l'ablation par radiofréquence.