Catheter ablation of common-type atrial flutter guided by three-dimensional right atrial geometry reconstruction and catheter tracking using cutaneous patches: a randomized prospective study.
BACKGROUND
EnSite NavX (NavX) is a novel mapping and navigation system that allows visualization of conventional catheters for diagnostic and ablative purposes and uses them to create a three-dimensional (3D) geometry of the heart. NavX is particularly suitable for ablation procedures utilizing an anatomic approach, as in the setting of common-type atrial flutter (AFL). The aim of this study was to compare NavX-guided and conventional ablation procedures for AFL.


RESULTS
Forty consecutive patients (32 male, 59 +/- 12 years) with documented AFL were randomized to undergo fluoroscopy-guided (group I, 20 patients) or NavX-guided (group II, 20 patients) ablation, including 3D isthmus reconstruction. The same catheter setup was used in both groups. The endpoint of bidirectional isthmus block was obtained in all patients. Compared to conventional approaches, NavX-guided procedures significantly reduced fluoroscopy time (5.1 +/- 1.4 min vs 20 +/- 11 min, P < 0.01) and total x-ray exposure (5.1 +/- 3.1 Gycm2 vs 24.9 +/- 1.6 Gycm2, P < 0.01). Isthmus geometry reconstruction could be performed in all patients of group II. In 4 patients (20%) of group II, anatomic isthmus variations were detected by NavX. No significant differences in radiofrequency current applications and procedural times were found between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
NavX technology allows geometry reconstruction of the cavotricuspid isthmus. NavX-guided ablation of AFL reduces total x-ray exposure compared to the fluoroscopy-guided approach but does not prolong procedure time.
Ventura
Rodolfo
R
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. ventura@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Rostock
Thomas
T
Klemm
Hanno U
HU
Lutomsky
Boris
B
Demir
Cagri
C
Weiss
Christian
C
Meinertz
Thomas
T
Willems
Stephan
S
D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies