Long-term outcomes after low power, slower movement versus high power, faster movement irrigated-tip catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background: High power, shorter duration (HPSD) ablation strategies have been advocated to increase efficacy and minimize posterior wall deep tissue thermal injury during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term outcomes of arrhythmia-free survival from AF and atrial flutter (AFL) between HPSD and low power, longer duration (LPLD) ablation strategies.

Methods: Of a total of 1333 first time AF ablation procedures with 3 years of follow-up, propensity-matched populations for baseline risk factors were created, comprising 402 patients treated with LPLD ablation (30 W for 5 seconds: posterior wall; 30 W for 10-20 seconds: anterior wall) and 402 patients treated with HPSD ablation (50 W for 2-3 seconds: posterior wall; 50 W for 5-15 seconds: anterior wall). AF/AFL outcomes after a 90-day blanking period were assessed.

Results: HPSD ablation was associated with shorter procedure and fluoroscopy times (P < .0001 for both). The recurrence of AF at 1 year (12.9% vs 16.2%; P = .19) and 3 years (26.5% vs 30.7%; P = .23) was similar between LPLD and HPSD groups. AFL was higher at 1 year (7.2% vs 11.2%; P = .03) and 3 years (16.1% vs 21.8%; P = .06; P = .04 after multivariate adjustment) with HPSD ablation. Patients who underwent an LPLD approach had lower rates of need for repeat ablation (21% vs 30%; P = .002).

Conclusion: Long-term freedom from AF rates were not significantly different between both approaches. An HPSD ablation strategy compared with an LPLD approach was associated with an increased risk of AFL and need for repeat ablation but with lowered procedure times.