Transcranial measurement of cerebral microembolic signals during left-sided catheter ablation with the use of different approaches- the potential microembolic risk of a transseptal approach

Aims Subclinical brain damage due to microembolization could occur during catheter ablation procedures. We evaluated the microembolic signals (MESs) detected by transcranial Doppler during ablation of supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) or idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) with the use of different approaches. Methods and results This study included 36 patients (23 men, 49 ± 21 years) who underwent catheter ablation of SVTs ( n  = 27) or idiopathic VAs ( n  = 9). Left-sided ablation was performed by either a transaortic (Group 1, n  = 11) or transseptal approach (Group 2, n  = 9). A sole right-sided ablation was performed in the remaining 16 patients (Group 3). The MESs were counted throughout the procedure, and then analysed offline with a frequency analysis. The mean number of radiofrequency applications, total energy delivery time, total application energy, and total procedure time were 5.8 ± 5.0, 4.3 ± 3.3 min, 6625 ± 4633 J, and 81 ± 40 min, respectively, and there was no significant difference in the parameters between the three groups. The mean total number of MESs was 3.8 ± 3.1 in Group 1, 75 ± 58 in Group 2, and 0.3 ± 0.6 in Group 3 ( P  = 0.001). Few MESs were detectable during the radiofrequency energy deliveries in all groups. In Group 2, 19 ± 18 MESs were detected during the transseptal puncture period, and subsequently a relatively even distribution of emboli formation was observed. A frequency analysis suggested that 99, 91, and 100% of MESs were gaseous, in Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, respectively. No neurological impairment was observed in any patients after the procedure. Conclusion The retrograde aortic approach might potentially have a lower risk of subclinical brain damage than the transseptal approach during left-sided catheter ablation.