title: Characteristics of Cavotricuspid Isthmus Ablation for Atrial Flutter Guided by Novel Parameters Using a Contact Force Catheter.
abstract: This study sought to investigate specific contact force (CF) parameters to guide cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation and compare the outcome with a historical control cohort.
  
  
  
  Patients (30) undergoing CTI ablation were enrolled prospectively in the Study cohort and compared with a retrospective Control cohort of 30 patients. Ablation in the Study cohort was performed using CF parameters >10 g and <40 g and a Force Time Integral (FTI) of 800 ± 10 g. The Control cohort underwent traditionally guided CTI ablation. Traditional parameters (electrogram and impedance change) were assessed in both cohorts. All ablations regardless of achieving targets were included in data analysis. Bidirectional CTI block was achieved in all of the Study and 27 of the Control cohort. Atrial flutter recurred in 3 (10%) patients (follow-up 564 ± 212 days) in the study cohort and in 3 (10%) patients (follow-up 804 ± 540 days) in the Control cohort. There were no major complications in either cohort. Traditional parameters correlated poorly with CF parameters. In the Study cohort, flutter recurrence was associated with significantly lower FTI and ablation duration, but was not associated with total average CF.
  
  
  
  CTI ablation can be safely performed using CF parameters guiding ablation, with similar long-term results to a historical ablation control group. Potentially CF parameters may provide adjunctive information to enable a more efficient CTI ablation. Further research is required to confirm this.
authors: University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Queensland, Australia.|Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Gould
authors: Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Cameron
authors: C
authors: Booth
authors: Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Kieran
authors: K
authors: Dauber
authors: Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Ng
authors: Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Claughton
authors: University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Queensland, Australia.|Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Gerald C
authors: GC
authors: Kaye
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000368:Aged; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D062906:Cardiac Catheters; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Tacti-Cath Quartz Introduction; atrial flutter; catheter ablation; cavotricuspid isthmus block; contact force ablation catheter; pressure sensing