CARDIAC TAMPONADE DURING ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ABLATION, BEFORE AND AFTER INTRODUCTION OF CONTACT FORCE SENSING CATHETERS

摘要

BACKGROUND: Introduction of the contact force (CF) sensing ablation catheter has been hypothesized to decrease rates of cardiac tamponade during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. While conventional radiofrequency ablation catheters have well established tamponade rates of 1-3%, data demonstrating the rates of tamponade with CF sensing ablation catheters is more limited. We sought to assess the incidence of cardiac tamponade before and after the introduction of the Smart-Touch? (CARTO, Biosense Webster) CF sensing ablation catheter at our institution.