Temperature-Controlled Cooled-Tip Radiofrequency Ablation in Left Ventricular Myocardium Avoidance of Steam Pop During Ablation

Steam pop and intramural charring have been reported during cooled-tip radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). We studied the feasibility of temperature-controlled cooled-tip RFCA in the canine heart.An internally cooled ablation catheter was inserted into the left ventricle. A custom-made radiofrequency (RF) generator capable of controlling the tip-temperature at the preset level by slow increases in the power was used. Temperature-controlled cooled-tip RF applications were performed at a target temperature of 40 degrees C for 90 seconds. Acute study: Intramyocardial temperature was measured at the ablation site in 10 dogs by inserting a fluoroptic probe. Chronic study: Lesion depth and volume were measured in 5 dogs after 3 weeks of survival. In the acute study, no pop or abrupt impedance rise was observed. Maximum intramyocardial temperature was 72.4 + or - 14.4 degrees C at 2-4 mm above the endocardium. No coagulum formation, craters, or intramural charring were observed. Maximum lesion depth was 6.7 + or - 1.5 mm, and lesion volume was 404 + or - 219 mm3. In the chronic study, maximum lesion depth was 5.9 + or - 1.1 mm, and lesion volume was 281 + or - 210 mm(3).Temperature controlled RFCA is feasible with a cooled-tip catheter and an RF generator that slowly increases the RF power until the preset catheter-tip temperature is reached.