Evaluation of the ablation index during catheter treatment without fluoroscopy in patients with coronary heart disease and systolic dysfunction

Aim. To study the ablation index (AI) in the context of catheter treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) without the use of fluoroscopy in patients with chronic heart failure. Methods. Catheter ablation of VT was performed in 47 patients with coronary heart disease and chronic heart failure. Intraoperative parameters of the ablation, including the average ablation index, were assessed. The fact of arrhythmia induction after a series of radiofrequency exposures was assessed. Recurrence of VT was also assessed. The observation period was 12 months. Results. During surgery after ablation exposure, arrhythmia induction was impossible in 100% of patients. After 12 months of observation, freedom from arrhythmia was 84,8%. Patients without recurrence of VT had a statistically significantly higher mean AI (612 [522,5; 683,5]) than with recurrence of VT (7 (15,2%) patients) (438 [416,5; 462]) (p=0,001). The possibility of predicting recurrence of VT depending on the mean AI value was also assessed. It was found that with the mean AI value greater than or equal to 473, the risk of recurrence of VT is lower (p=0,001). Conclusions. AI can be used as a parameter for monitoring effective ablation exposure in the context of catheter ablation of VT along with other determinants currently used.