Procedural and Clinical Outcomes of High-Frequency Low-Tidal Volume
Ventilation Plus Rapid-Atrial Pacing in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Ablation
Abstract
Background: High-frequency low-tidal-volume (HFLTV) ventilation
is a safe and cost-effective strategy that improves catheter stability,
first-pass pulmonary vein isolation, and freedom from all-atrial
arrhythmias during radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of paroxysmal
and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the incremental value
of adding rapid-atrial pacing (RAP) to HFLTV-ventilation has not yet
been determined. Objective: To evaluate the effect of
HFLTV-ventilation plus RAP during RFCA of paroxysmal AF on procedural
and long-term clinical outcomes compared to HFLTV-ventilation alone.
Methods: Patients from the REAL-AF prospective multicenter
registry, who underwent RFCA of paroxysmal AF using either HFLTV+RAP
(500-600 msec) or HFLTV ventilation alone from April 2020 to February
2023 were included. The primary outcome was freedom from all-atrial
arrhythmias at 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes included
procedural characteristics, long-term clinical outcomes, and
procedure-related complications. Results: A total of 545
patients were included in the analysis (HFLTV+RAP=327 vs. HFLTV=218).
There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics
between the groups. No differences were observed in procedural
(HFLTV+RAP 74 [57-98] vs. HFLTV 66 [53-85.75] min, p=0.617) and
RF (HFLTV+RAP 15.15 [11.22-21.22] vs. HFLTV 13.99 [11.04-17.13]
min, p=0.620) times. Both groups showed a similar freedom from
all-atrial arrhythmias at 12-month follow-up (HFLTV+RAP 82.68% vs.
HFLTV 86.52%, HR=1.43, 95% CI [0.94-2.16], p=0.093). There were no
significant differences in freedom from AF-related symptoms (HFLTV+RAP
91.4% vs. HFLTV 93.1%, p=0.476) or AF-related hospitalizations
(HFLTV+RAP 98.5% vs. HFLTV 97.2%, p=0.320). Procedure-related
complications were low in both groups (HFLTV+RAP 0.6% vs. HFLTV 0%,
p=0.247). Conclusion: In patients undergoing RFCA for
paroxysmal AF, adding RAP to HFLTV-ventilation was not associated with
improved procedural and long-term clinical outcomes.