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).

Real-time intracardiac echocardiography validation of saline-enhanced radiofrequency needle-tip ablation: lesion characteristics and gross pathology correlation.

Aims: With the implementation of saline-enhanced radiofrequency (SERF) needle-tip ablation, real-time validation of lesion formation is needed for the controllable creation of transmural lesions. The aim of the study was to analyse the ability of two-dimensional intracardiac echocardiography (2D-ICE) to guide and validate SERF ablation in real-time.

Methods And Results: Fifty-six SERF energy deliveries at left ventricular sites of 11 dogs guided by 2D-ICE were analysed (power: 15-50 W; time: 25-120 s; irrigation saline: 60°C with 10 mL/min flow rate).

Impact of myocardial fiber orientation on lesions created by a novel heated saline-enhanced radiofrequency needle-tip catheter: An MRI lesion validation study.

Background: Irrigated needle catheter ablation is efficacious for creation of transmural lesions in the left ventricle (LV). However, interdependence of needle orientation and myocardial fiber orientation and the resulting influence on lesion creation remain unclear.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of myocardial fiber orientation on reproducibility and controllability of lesion creation in LV myocardium using a heated saline-enhanced radiofrequency (SERF) needle-tip catheter system.

Characterization of Lesions Created by a Heated, Saline Irrigated Needle-Tip Catheter in the Normal and Infarcted Canine Heart.

Background: Inability to eliminate intramural arrhythmogenic substrate may lead to recurrent ventricular tachycardia after catheter ablation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate intramural and full thickness lesion formation using a heated saline-enhanced radiofrequency (SERF) needle-tip catheter, compared with a conventional ablation catheter in normal and infarcted myocardium.

Methods: Twenty-two adult mongrel dogs (30-40 kg, 15 normal and 7 myocardial infarct group) were studied.

Characterization of warm saline-enhanced radiofrequency ablation lesions in the infarcted porcine ventricular myocardium.

Background: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of scar-mediated ventricular tachycardia is limited by the size of lesions achieved with conventional catheters. We examined the gross and histopathology characteristics of warm saline-enhanced radiofrequency (SERF) ablation delivered to left ventricular (LV) infarction scars via a novel catheter employing an extendable infusion needle electrode.

Methods And Results: Yorkshire pigs (n = 14) underwent LV infarction by left anterior descending artery balloon occlusion.

Intracardiac phased-array imaging: methods and initial clinical experience with high resolution, under blood visualization: initial experience with intracardiac phased-array ultrasound.

Objectives: This study was designed to test the feasibility of high-resolution phased-array intracardiac imaging.

Background: Intracardiac echocardiographic imaging of the heart during interventional electrophysiologic (EP) procedures has been limited by inadequate ultrasound penetration and absence of Doppler hemodynamic and flow information produced by rotating mechanical ultrasound elements.

Methods: A 10F (3.