Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE
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Pacing Clin Electrophysiol · Oct 2002
Application of right atrial contiguous linear lesions: an in vivo efficacy validation of multipolar ablation catheters in an animal model.
Catheter ablation of atrial flutter and catheter Maze procedures require the creation of linear lesions. The efficacy of different multipolar catheters to create linear contiguous transmural lesions was studied in a sheep model. In 19 sheep a multipolar ablation catheter was inserted into the right atrium. ⋯ Microscopic endocardial fibrinous adhesions and macroscopic mild electrode carbonizations were caused by all catheter types. In conclusion, (1) all three catheter types do not create contiguous lesions along all electrodes. Gaps of viable tissue remain in most instances; (2) lesion depths and transmurality varies with different catheters; and (3) potentially hazardous thrombotic material was observed during radiofrequency ablation with all three catheters.