Transmural unipolar electrogram morphology is achieved within 7s at the posterior left atrial wall during pulmonary vein isolation: VISITAG™ Module-based lesion assessment during radiofrequency ablation

Abstract

AimsTo assess the occurrence of a histologically validated measure of transmural (TM) atrial ablation - pure R unipolar electrogram (UE) morphology change - at first-ablated left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) sites during contact force (CF)-guided pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).\n\nMethods and resultsExported VISITAG Module and CARTOREPLAY (Biosense Webster Inc.) UE morphology data was retrospectively analysed in 23 consecutive patients undergoing PVI under general anaesthesia. PVI without spontaneous / dormant recovery was achieved in all, employing 16.3[3.2] minutes (mean [SD]) of temperature-controlled RF at 30W. All first-ablated LAPW sites demonstrated RS UE morphology pre-ablation, with RF-induced pure R UE morphology change in 98%. Time to pure R UE morphology was significantly shorter at left-sided LAPW sites (4.9[2.1] s versus 6.7[2.5] s; p=0.02), with significantly greater impedance drop (median 13.5{Omega} versus 9.9{Omega}; p=0.003). Importantly, neither the first-site RF duration (14.9 versus 15.0s) nor the maximum ablation catheter tip distance moved (during RF) were significantly different, yet the mean CF was significantly higher at right-sided sites (16.5g versus 11.2g; p=0.002). Concurrent impedance and objectively annotated bipolar electrogram (BE) data demonstrated ~6-8{Omega} impedance drop and ~30% BE decrease at the time of first pure R UE morphology change.\n\nConclusionUsing objective ablation site annotation, TM UE morphology change was typically achieved within 7s at the LAPW, with significantly greater ablative effect evident at left-sided sites. The methodology described in this report represents a novel and scientifically more rigorous foundation towards future research into the biological effects of RF ablation in vivo.\n\nCondensed abstractThrough appropriate use of the VISITAG Module and CARTOREPLAY, unipolar electrogram morphology change indicative of histologically confirmed transmural atrial ablation in animal models, was proven to occur typically within 7s, during first-site contact force-guided ablation at the left atrial posterior wall during pulmonary vein isolation.