Lesion characteristics between cryoballoon ablation and radiofrequency ablation with a contact-force sensing catheter: late-gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging assessment.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) lesions after cryo-balloon ablation (CBA) are characterized as a wider and more continuous than that after conventional radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) without the contact force (CF) sensing technology. However, the impact on the lesion characteristics of ablation with a CF sensing catheter has not been well discussed. We sought to assess the lesions using late-gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI) and to compare the differences between the two groups (CB group vs. RF group). METHODS A total of 30 consecutive patients who underwent PVI were enrolled (CB group; 18, RF group; 12). The RF applications were delivered with a target lesion size index (LSI) of 5. The PVI lesions were assessed by LGE-MRI three months after the PVI. The region around the PV was divided into the eight segments: roof, anterior-superior, anterior carina, anterior inferior, bottom, posterior inferior, posterior carina, and posterior superior segment. The lesion width and visual gap of each segment was compared between the two groups. The visual gaps were defined as no-enhancement site of > 4mm. RESULTS The mean LSI was 4.7±0.7. The lesion width was significantly wider but the visual gaps were more frequently documented at the bottom segment of right PV in the CBA group (lesion width: 8.1±2.2 mm vs. 6.3±2.2 mm, p=0.032; visual gap at the bottom segment or right PV: 39% vs. 0%, p=0.016). CONCLUSIONS The PVI lesion was wider after CBA, while the visual gaps were fewer after RFCA with a CF sensing catheter. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.