High-Frequency, Low Tidal Volume Ventilation to Improve Catheter Stability During Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

摘要

Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after ablation often results from pulmonary vein reconnections caused by insufficient lesion formation (l). Cardiac motion caused by thoracic excursion results in displacement of the ablation catheter and decreased contact force (CF). Jet ventilation minimizes thoracic excursion, reduces ablation catheter displacement, and improves tissue contact, leading to shorter ablation times and a decrease in AF recurrence (2,3). Given the many barriers to widespread adoption of jet ventilation, this study was designed to determine if performing AF ablations using a novel ventilation strategy involving a standard ventilator with high respiratory rates and very low tidal volumes improves catheter stability and clinical outcomes compared with normal ventilator settings.