Introduction
In 1987, transcatheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias via
radiofrequency (RF) current was introduced to avoid the complications
associated with direct current fulguration(1). In RF ablation, low
voltage high-frequency electrical energy (30KHz – 1.5MHz) is delivered
to the endocardial surface producing well-circumscribed lesions
resulting in more accurate and focal tissue ablation(1). In 1995, RF
ablation was further refined using saline irrigation to cool the
catheter tip, making larger RF lesions possible and thus increasing its
efficacy(2, 3).
Although AF ablation is relatively safe, the procedure still carries a
risk of complications (4, 5). Several factors are taken into
consideration to ensure the safety and efficacy of PVI, such
as transmurality of lesions, necrosis of tissue and scar formation, and
absence of excessive cardiac injury. These factors can be controlled by
adjusting RF parameters such as power, duration, electrode, and lesion
size(6-9). Currently, two broad ablation strategies are used: low-power,
long-duration (LPLD) and high-power short-duration (HPSD)(10, 11). HPSD
has been shown to lower time spent per lesion and reduce deep tissue
heating and collateral injury(9-12).
While several studies compared different radiofrequency ablation
catheters in AF ablation(13), few studies are available for
atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation. This study aims to compare the
effectiveness of various types of RF ablation catheters in AVN
ablation.