Performance of a non-irrigated bipolar radiofrequency ablation clamp on beating human hearts

This study is intended to examine the efficacy of a non-irrigated bipolar RF clamp and explore the factors that can influence its performance on beating human hearts using the electrophysiology mapping method.

A total of 83 atrial fibrillation (AF) patients were included in this study. Based on the Body mass index (BMI, kg/m²), the AF patients were divided into the normal group (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25) and the overweight or obese group (BMI ≥ 25). They all underwent a stand-alone surgical ablation through our off-pump biatrial mini-maze procedure. After we completed each time of ablation, the achievement of PV isolation was checked using the electrophysiology mapping method. The number of ablation times to achieve the PV isolation on the left and right PVs was recorded respectively.

86.7% (72/83) PV isolation on the LPV and 72.3% (60/83) PV isolation on the RPV could be achieved respectively after performing a single time of surgical ablation. Three times of ablations resulted in 100.0% PV isolation on the left and right PVs. In the normal BMI group, the ratio of patients who achieved a complete PV isolation after a single time of ablation was 83.7% (36/43), which was higher than the 60.0% (24/40) in the overweight or obese group.

Performing three times of ablations resulted in 100% PV isolation on the left and right PVs. The bipolar RF clamp had a better performance on the LPV than on the RPV. The patients' BMI also influenced the Atricure clamp' s performance.