Modification of the Unipolar Atrial Electrogram as a Local Endpoint During Common Atrial Flutter Ablation

Complete elimination of the negative component of the unipolar atrial electrogram recently proved predictive of lesions transmurality. We prospectively assessed its relevance as a real-time local ablative endpoint for each individual lesion created across the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) in order to constitute a line of bidirectionnal block during common atrial flutter (AFL) ablation.

Sixty-two consecutive patients underwent common AFL ablation following an electrophysiological approach guided by real-time electrogram modification analysis. In 31 patients (unipolar group), the local ablative endpoint was complete elimination of the negative component of the unipolar atrial electrogram, while the other 31 patients (control group) were treated following our standard approach based on the currently used local ablative endpoint defined by a ≥50% amplitude decrease of the bipolar atrial electrogram. Bidirectional block was achieved in all patients (mean age 67.9 ± 11.5 with 80.6% of men). Mean ablation time (164.3 ± 88.3 seconds vs 332.8 ± 151.5 seconds; P < 0.001) and mean energy delivery (7.5 ± 4.1 kJ vs 14.2 ± 6 kJ; P < 0.001) were significantly shorter in the unipolar group compared to the control group. No statistical differences were seen in procedure time (68.5 ± 22.6 min vs 77.5 ± 20.2 min; P = 0.10).

Real-time unipolar electrogram modification is a relevant local endpoint during common AFL ablation and leads to a substantial reduction of ablation time and energy delivery compared to a standard ablative approach while displaying a similar short- and long-term success rate.