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Robotic ablation of atrial fibrillation with a new remote catheter system

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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is widely established as a curative treatment option for atrial fibrillation (AF). A wide range of techniques to improve catheter manipulation and steerability has been developed over the past years. A new remote catheter system (RCS) has recently become available (Amigo Remote Catheter System, Catheter Robotics, Budd Lake, NJ, USA). Here, we present a dual-center study on the RCS for left atrial mapping and PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF compared to a control group undergoing conventional PVI.

Methods

One hundred nineteen patients who underwent PVI for paroxysmal AF were studied. Forty patients underwent PVI with the use of the RCS. Seventy-nine patients, who underwent conventional PVI, served as control group. Procedural data were compared between the two groups.

Results

PVI was achieved in all patients. In the RCS group compared to standard ablation group, there were no significant differences in procedure duration (159.1 ± 45.4 vs. 146 ± 30.1 min, p = 0.19), total energy delivery (78,146.3 ± 26,992.4 vs. 87,963.9 ± 79,202.1 Ws, p = 0.57), and total fluoroscopy time (21.2 ± 8.6 vs. 23.9 ± 5.4 min, p = 0.15). Operator fluoroscopy exposure was significantly reduced in the RCS group (13.4 ± 6.1 vs. 23.9 ± 5.4 min, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

These initial results suggest that left atrial mapping and PVI are feasible with the use of the Amigo RCS. Acute procedural efficacy is comparable to the standard approach. The use of the Amigo RCS leads to a significant reduction of operator fluoroscopy exposure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany

    Alexander Wutzler, Abdul Shokor Parwani, Martin Huemer, Philipp Attanasio, Florian Blaschke, Wilhelm Haverkamp & Leif-Hendrik Boldt

  2. Cardiovascular Center, Cardiology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

    Thomas Wolber, Laurent Haegeli & Firat Duru

Authors
  1. Alexander Wutzler
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  2. Thomas Wolber
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  3. Abdul Shokor Parwani
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  4. Martin Huemer
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  5. Philipp Attanasio
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  6. Florian Blaschke
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  7. Laurent Haegeli
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  8. Wilhelm Haverkamp
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  9. Firat Duru
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  10. Leif-Hendrik Boldt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexander Wutzler.

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Wutzler, A., Wolber, T., Parwani, A.S. et al. Robotic ablation of atrial fibrillation with a new remote catheter system. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 40, 215–219 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-014-9895-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-014-9895-x

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