PV Isolation Using a Spherical Array PFA Catheter: Application Repetition and Lesion Durability (PULSE-EU Study)

Mohit K. Turagam, Petr Neuzil, Jan Petru, Moritoshi Funasako, Jacob S. Koruth, Daniel Reinders, Jan Skoda, Stepan Kralovec, Vivek Y. Reddy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Preclinical studies have revealed that pulsed field ablation (PFA) lesion dimensions increase with repetitive applications at a similar electric field. Objectives: This study investigated whether pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) durability varies with single vs repetitive pulsed field (PF) applications. Methods: Atrial fibrillation patients underwent PVI using a spherical multielectrode array PFA catheter delivered with a 19-F deflectable sheath under intracardiac echocardiographic guidance. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and brain magnetic resonance imaging were performed within 1 to 3 days, and invasive remapping at ∼2 to 3 months. Results: The patient cohort (n = 21; age 63 ± 11 years; 67% women) underwent PVI in either of 2 groups: group 1 (n = 11)—single PF application/PV; and group 2 (n = 10)—3 PF applications/PV. In both groups, PVI was acutely successful in all (100%) patients. Despite significantly longer pulse delivery times (75.2 ± 7.4 s/patient vs 24.5 ± 5.5 s/patient) the procedure times (73.2 ± 13.7 minutes vs 93.7 ± 18.5 minutes) were shorter with group 2 vs group 1. There was no stroke/transient ischemic attack, pericardial effusion, phrenic nerve injury, or esophageal complications. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was normal in both groups of patients (n = 9). Screening brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed asymptomatic cerebral lesions (diffusion weighted imaging+/ fluid attenuated inversion recovery−) in 3 of 16 (18.7%) patients. PV remapping revealed durable PVI in 62.5% PVs in group 1 (n = 10), compared with all 100% PVs in group 2 (n = 9); this translates to all PVs being durably isolated in 30% vs 100% (P < 0.05) of patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusions: In his first-in-human trial, the “single-shot” spherical array PFA catheter was shown to safely isolate PVs. Repetitive PF application is key for lesion consolidation to maximize PVI durability.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJACC: Clinical Electrophysiology
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2023

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • catheter ablation
  • pulmonary vein isolation
  • pulse field ablation

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