title: Does a patent foramen ovale matter when using a remote-controlled magnetic system for pulmonary vein isolation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) takes longer when using a patent foramen ovale (PFO) compared with a transseptal puncture in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) with manual catheter ablation. To our knowledge, no data exist concerning the impact of a PFO on AF ablation procedure variables when using a remote magnetic navigation (RMN) system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of a PFO when using an RMN system in patients requiring AF ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2011 and December 2012, catheter ablation was performed remotely using the CARTO(®) 3 system in 167 consecutive patients who underwent PVI for symptomatic drug-refractory AF. The radiofrequency generator was set to a fixed power ≤ 35 W. The primary endpoint was wide-area circumferential PVI confirmed by spiral catheter recording during ablation for all patients and including additional lesion lines (left atrial roof) or complex fractionated atrial electrograms for persistent AF. Secondary endpoints included procedural data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age 58±10 years; 18% women; 107 (64%) patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF; 60 (36%) with persistent AF; CHA2DS2-VASc score 1.2 ± 1. The PFO presence was evidenced in 49/167 (29.3%) patients during the procedure but in only 26/167 (16%) by transoesophageal echocardiography. Median procedure time 2.5 ± 1 hours; median total X-ray exposure time 14 ± 7 minutes; transseptal puncture and catheter positioning time 7.5 ± 5 minutes; left atrium electroanatomical reconstruction time 3 ± 2.3 minutes; catheter ablation time 3 ± 3 minutes. No procedure time or X-ray exposure differences were observed between patients with or without a PFO during magnetic navigation catheter ablation. X-ray exposure time was significantly reduced using a PFO compared with double transseptal puncture access.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A PFO does not affect magnetic navigation during AF ablation; procedure times and X-ray exposure were similar. Septal catheter probing is mandatory to limit X-ray exposure and prevent potential complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Jean-Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: Alexie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gate-Martinet
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Jean-Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France. Electronic address: dakosta@orange.fr.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Da Costa
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Jean-Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romeyer-Bouchard
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Jean-Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bisch
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Jean-Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levallois
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Jean-Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isaaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D062906:Cardiac Catheters; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Fibrillation atriale; Foramen ovale perméable; Patent foramen ovale; Pulmonary vein; Remote magnetic navigation; Robot magnétique; Veine pulmonaire