B-po05-075 the lesion continuity after pulmonary vein isolation with normal contact force vs high contact force (late-gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (lge-mri) analysis)

Visual lesion gap and gap length assessed by the late-gadolinium enhancement magnetic imaging (LGE-MRI) were reported to be associated with the atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, the lesion characteristics after PVI with normal contact force (NCF) and high CF (HCF) has not been well discussed. N/A 31 patients with paroxysmal AF underwent catheter ablation were enrolled (17 in NCF group, 14 in HCF group). The target contact force in NCF group was 5-15 g, and that in HCF was 10-30g. The interlesion distance was 3-5mm. The lesions were assessed by LGE MRI 1-3 months after the procedure. The gap number (GN) and the standardized gap length (SGL) were assessed. The gaps were defined as no-enhancement sites of <4 mm. In addition, AF recurrence rate at 6 months after the procedure was compared between the two groups. Actual average CF was 9.8±6.4 in NCF group and 13.4±7.3 in HCF group. LSI was 4.4±1.0 in NCF group and 5.1±0.9 in HCF group. Both GN and SGL were significantly less in HCF group (GN: 4.1±1.9 vs. 1.8±1.6, p<0.001; SGL: 11.1±3.4mm vs. 5.3±4.5mm, p<0.001). The recurrence rate of AF at 6 months after the procedure was likely less in the LSI 6 group but not significant. (4 (24%) of 17 vs. 2 (14%) of 14 patients, p = 0.664). Radiofrequency ablation with HCF significantly improved lesion continuity which might reduce AF recurrence.