Early experience with robotic navigation for catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Pulmonary venous antra isolation (PVAI) is the cornerstone of catheter ablation procedure for drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the procedure is technically challenging. Robotic navigation has a potential to expedite and facilitate the procedure.

A robotic catheter control system was used for remote navigation-supported PVAI in 22 patients (mean age = 55 +/- 9 years, 16 males, study group). An irrigated-tip catheter with estimate of catheter force on the tissue was used. This was compared in nonrandomized fashion with conventional hand-controlled catheter ablation in 16 patients (mean age = 55 +/- 9 years, 13 males, control group). The procedures were performed under guidance of Ensite NavX navigation system (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) and intracardiac echocardiography.

Robotic navigation was associated with significantly shorter overall duration of radiofrequency delivery (1,641 +/- 609 vs 2,188 +/- 865 seconds, P < 0.01), shorter total procedural time (207 +/- 29 vs 250 +/- 62 minutes, P = 0.007), fluoroscopy exposure (15 +/- 5 vs 27 +/- 9 minutes, P < 0.001), and lower radiation dose (1,119 +/- 596 vs 3,048 +/- 2,029 mGy/m(2), P < 0.001). No complication was observed in either the study or the control group. During the 5 +/- 1 months follow-up in the study group and 9 +/- 3 months in the control group, 91% and 81% of patients, respectively, were AF free.

In our early clinical experience, PVAI using a remote robotic catheter navigation was effective, safe, and associated with shorter procedural and fluoroscopic times than conventional PVAI.