title: [Contact force control - the key to safe zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is a frequent supraventricular tachycardia in children and young adults. Despite favourable success rates of catheter ablation, conventional fluoroscopic catheter guidance is associated with risks of low-dose ionizing radiation for the patient and the personnel. Here we describe a technique for zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation using contact force technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation was attempted in 12 patients with AVNRT (median age 20 years; range 11-75 years). An ablation catheter with integrated contact force sensor and a nonfluoroscopic electroanatomical mapping system was used for visualization of cardiovascular structures. Mean contact forces during mapping and ablation were restricted to an upper limit of 50 g to avoid cardiovascular injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation was performed successfully and uneventfully in all patients. There were no arrhythmia recurrences during a median follow-up of 6.2 months (range 2.7-12.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation of AVNRT is possible and appears simple yet safe, when a nonfluoroscopic electroanatomical mapping system is used in combination with an ablation catheter with integrated contact force sensor. The presented technique could thus be easily employed in most electrophysiological laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kinderheilkunde II, Universitätsklinik Tübingen.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kerst
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Weig
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weretka
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seizer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hofbeck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gawaz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schreieck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018780:Body Surface Potential Mapping / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult