Feasibility and Safety of Extended Posterior Wall Isolation Technique of
Laser Balloon Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Abstract
Background Laser balloon ablation (LBA) is a balloon-based
catheter ablation technology used for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation
in recent years. The laser balloon has the potential to extend the
isolation area because of its changeable balloon size. The purpose of
the study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of extended LBA
technique, and to compare the isolation area with an established balloon
technique using the cryoballoon ablation (CBA). Methods From
June 2020 to July 2021, 76 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF who
underwent initial pulmonary vein isolation were enrolled. Of these, 65
patients were included in the study, excluding 11 who met the exclusion
criteria; 32 and 33 patients were in the LBA and CBA groups,
respectively. In the LBA group, after standard ablation of each PV,
additional extended posterior wall ablation was performed by increasing
the balloon size to the maximum (the extended LBA technique). In the CBA
group, cryoablation was performed using a 28-mm balloon. In both groups,
voltage maps were created for measuring the isolated surface area (ISA)
by the CARTO mapping system pre- and post-ablation. Results In
the LBA group, the extended LBA technique was feasible in all patients.
The total ISA after the extended LBA technique was significantly larger
than before (32.4±6.5 vs 22.3±4.1 cm 2,
p<0.001) and the non-isolated posterior wall area was
significantly smaller (8.9 ± 3.5 vs 13.3 ± 3.7 cm2, p<0.001).
Although the percentage of esophageal temperature elevation
(>39.0°C) was higher during the extended LBA than during
the standard LBA (LIPV: 26/32 [81%] vs. 7/32 [22%],
p<0.001; LSPV: 10/32 [31%] vs. 2/32 [6%],
p<0.001), symptomatic gastric hypomotility or esophageal
mucosal injury was not observed in all patients. Comparing the extended
LBA and the CBA group, IASA-R (18.1 ± 4.6 vs 15.9 ± 3.5, p=0.033) and
non-isolated posterior wall (8.9 ± 3.5 vs 12.4 ± 3.7, p<0.001)
were significantly greater in the extended LBA, but cardiac enzyme
elevation after ablation was lower than the CBA group. No significant
differences were found between the two groups in perioperative major
complications or AF-free survival at 3 and 6 months.
Conclusions LBA with extended posterior wall isolation
technique was safe and feasible. Long-term effectiveness studies should
be evaluated in a larger sample size.