The LocaLisa system as the key to shortening the procedure duration and fluoroscopy time during ablation of atrial fibrillation.
BACKGROUND
Ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) can be difficult and time-consuming. Systems facilitating catheter navigation may be helpful.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of the LocaLisa system with the conventional mapping/ablation approach to radiofrequency (RF) ablation of AF.


METHODS
Group 1, consisting of 64 patients (48 male; aged 51.5+/-10.6 years), underwent segmental isolation of the pulmonary veins with the Lasso catheter and the LocaLisa system. Group 2, consisting of 64 patients (44 male, aged 51.4+/-11.0 years), had RF ablation guided by means of a conventional fluoroscopy-based approach. Clinical and procedural data were analysed.


RESULTS
Nine patients from group 1 and three patients from group 2 had persistent AF. In group 1 the mean number of isolated veins was 3.98+/-0.96, while in group 2 - 4.0+/-0.95 (NS). In group 1 cavotricuspid isthmus lines were created in four patients and lines in the roof of the left atrium in two patients. One patient needed slow pathway ablation. In group 2 six patients had ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus and a line was created at the roof of the left atrium in one patient. Two patients had ectopic activity ablated in the crista terminalis. Procedure times were 131.6+/-40.3 and 170.0+/-56.5 min (p <0.0001) and fluoroscopy times were 16.93+/-9.7 and 35.66+/-12.7 min (p <0.0001) for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Long-term efficacy of RF ablation was similar in both groups (for example, complete success was achieved in 59% of patients using LocaLisa and 50% without using this system, NS).


CONCLUSIONS
The LocaLisa navigation system makes it possible to shorten both the duration of the procedure and the total fluoroscopy time during ablation of AF.
Koźluk
Edward
E
1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Gawrysiak
Marcin
M
Lodziński
Piotr
P
Kiliszek
Marek
M
Winkler
Aleksandra
A
Kochanowski
Janusz
J
Piatkowska
Agnieszka
A
Kasprzak
Jarosław D
JD
Kozłowski
Dariusz
D
Opolski
Grzegorz
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D018780:Body Surface Potential Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome