Key result
Non-fluoroscopic radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias achieved an early success rate of 89.8% compared to 80.0% with fluoroscopy, demonstrating comparable efficacy.
Why the study?
Fluoroscopy during radiofrequency catheter ablation exposes patients and staff to radiation-related side effects, and current experience with non-fluoroscopic RFCA for left-sided ventricular arrhythmias is limited.
Does non-fluoroscopic radiofrequency catheter ablation provide similar safety and effectiveness compared to fluoroscopic ablation in patients with ventricular arrhythmias?
Cohort (n=128)
No
Does non-fluoroscopic radiofrequency catheter ablation provide similar safety and effectiveness compared to fluoroscopic ablation in patients with ventricular arrhythmias?
Non-fluoroscopic radiofrequency catheter ablation of right- and left-sided ventricular arrhythmias is safe and equally effective as fluoroscopic ablation, allowing for the elimination of radiation exposure.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
NF-RFCA appears comparably safe and effective for left- and right-sided VAs; observational data leave open need for randomized confirmation before practice change.
INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an important method of treatment of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). In the majority of RFCA, fluoroscopy is used, exposing patients and medical staff to all related side effects. Current experience of non-fluoroscopic (NF)-RFCA in VAs from the left side is limited. AIM: Analysis of safety and effectiveness of NF-RFCA of VAs from left- and right-sided cardiac chambers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 2014 to 2018, a group of 128 patients who underwent RFCA of VAs were retrospectively divided into two groups: NF-RFCA and fluoroscopic (F)-RFCA. Patients in each group were then subsequently subdivided into two groups based on VAs localization - left- (LS-Va) and right-sided (RS-Va) VAs. In all patients the CARTO Biosense Webster mapping system was used. There were 4 (4.6%) perioperative complications in NF-RFCA and 2 (5%) in F-RFCA. Success rate, procedure time and complications were not significantly different between groups and subgroups in follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: NF-RFCA in VAs from the right and left cardiac chamber is safe and equally effective as F-RFCA, and it should be implemented as often as possible for protection of patients and electrophysiology staff.
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Karkowski et al. (2020) conducted a cohort in Ventricular arrhythmias (n=128). Non-fluoroscopic radiofrequency catheter ablation vs. Fluoroscopic radiofrequency catheter ablation was evaluated on Early procedural success (p=0.131). Non-fluoroscopic radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias achieved an early success rate of 89.8% compared to 80.0% with fluoroscopy, demonstrating comparable efficacy.
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