title: Single-catheter approach to pulmonary vein reisolation in selected patients : Data from a prospective registry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In addition to different types of single-tip ablation catheters for pulmonary vein (PV) reisolation, a newly developed circular mapping and ablation catheter (nMARQ®) has been available since 2013 and is currently used only in initial PV isolation procedures. In this prospective registry we present feasibility and efficacy data for PV reisolation procedures with a single-catheter approach (nMARQ®) compared with a standard approach using a single-tip ablation catheter and a circular mapping catheter.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 35 carefully selected patients in this prospective registry and assigned them in a 2:1 ratio to undergo either PV reisolation with a single-tip ablation catheter together with a steerable circular mapping catheter (group 1) or with the nMARQ®catheter only (group 2). The recurrence rate was calculated for atrial tachyarrhythmias with a duration of > 30 s during a mean follow-up of 12.7 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reisolation of all PVs was achieved in all patients of both groups. In group 2, all gaps could be correctly identified with the nMARQ®catheter. PV isolation was clearly visible on the nMARQ®catheter in all targeted veins. With the nMARQ®catheter the ablation time decreased significantly (6.3 ± 3.0 vs. 18.6 ± 13.9 min, p < 0.05). The recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation did not differ significantly between the two groups (37.5 vs. 45.5 %, p = 0.66).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In selected patients, a complete PV reisolation procedure is feasible with a singular circular mapping and ablation catheter. The 12-months success rate is comparable to a classic approach with a combination of a single-tip ablation catheter and a circular mapping catheter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18059, Rostock, Germany. joerg.lauschke@uni-rostock.de.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lauschke
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wissmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bänsch
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D018780:Body Surface Potential Mapping / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Circular mapping catheter; Pulmonary vein reisolation; Single-tip catheter; nMARQ®