Potential microemboli formation risk and its management during the heated saline-enhanced radiofrequency needle-tip catheter ablation.

Background: The potential risk of embolic events during ablation in the left ventricle (LV) with a heated saline-enhanced radiofrequency (SERF) needle-tip ablation catheter has not been characterized.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the formation of microemboli or other untoward events during SERF ablation.

Methods: Ninety-three radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures were performed in the LV of 14 pigs by using a SERF catheter (35 W, 70 seconds, and 60°C; normal or degassed saline [NS or DS] irrigation with a flow rate of 10 mL/min) vs a standard irrigated-tip radiofrequency (S-RF) catheter (30 or 50 W, 30 seconds, and 17 mL/min).