Similar outcomes with manual contact force ablation catheters and traditional catheters in the treatment of outflow tract premature ventricular complexes

Aims: Unlike in atrial fibrillation ablation, there is a lack of appropriately sized and properly designed studies regarding outflow tract (OT) premature ventricular complex (PVC) ablation outcomes with contact force sensing (CFS) catheters. We aimed to compare the acute success-, complication-, and long-term recurrence rates of manual CFS catheters with traditional irrigated catheters (T) in OT PVC ablation.

Methods and results: Single-centre, propensity-matched data of 75-75 patients ablated for right-sided OT (RVOT) or left-sided OT (LVOT) PVCs in 2015-17 with CFS or T catheters were compared. Acute success rate, peri-procedural complications, post-procedural daily PVC burden, and long-term recurrence rates were compared on intention-to-treat basis. Acute success rate equalled 80% in both groups, with no difference in force values in the CFS group comparing successful or failed cases [12.0 (8.75-17.0) vs. 16.0 (10.25-22.25) g, P = 0.21]. There were three cases of pseudo-aneurysm and one cardiac tamponade. PVC burden fell significantly from baseline 22 (15-30)% to 2 (0-10)% (P < 0.0001), with no difference between catheter types [CFS: 1 (0-7)% vs. T: 4 (1-12) %; P = 0.21]. There was no significant difference in recurrence-free survival of CFS and T catheters (58 vs. 59%, P = 0.29) during 12 months of follow-up, respectively. Recurrence in the CFS group did not differ either by the force exerted below or above the median value of 12 g (P = 0.66).

Conclusion: Both types of catheters can effectively reduce OT PVC burden with minimal serious complication rates. Ablation with CFS or T catheters gives similar acute- and long-term results.