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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Non-fluoroscopic Catheter Tracking for Fluoroscopy Reduction in Interventional Electrophysiology
Published on: May 26, 2015
First 1000 cases of dual-energy lattice-tip ablation for atrial fibrillation: Procedural experience, clinical
Jonathan Na1, Helena Lopez-Martinez1, Joseph Elias1
1Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.
Background:
The dual-energy lattice-tip catheter delivering radiofrequency (RF) or pulsed field ablation (PFA) has experienced rapid uptake in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, with potential trade-offs between efficiency and cost. Real-world data on clinical, operational, and economic impact remain limited.
Objective:
To report a real-world, single-center experience with the Sphere-9 catheter for AF ablation, focusing on clinical, practice management, and financial outcomes.
Methods:
Consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation were prospectively enrolled between December 2024 and January 2026. Procedural characteristics, acute outcomes, safety events, discharge status, and early follow-up were analyzed. Procedural volume, efficiency, and supply-related costs and charges were compared with a pre-implementation cohort.
Results:
A total of 985 patients underwent 1008 procedures (53.3% paroxysmal; 66.5% first ablation). Pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all cases, with adjunctive lesion sets performed as indicated. Acute safety events occurred in 2.4%, including coronary vasospasm (n = 1), ventricular fibrillation during mitral PFA (n = 1), persistent atrioventricular block (n = 2), and device-related complications (n = 3). There were no deaths, strokes, tamponades, atrio-esophageal fistulas, or phrenic nerve injuries. Same-day discharge was achieved in 83.5%. Compared with pre-implementation, annual AF ablation volume increased by 26.8%, and median procedure time decreased (69 vs 116 minutes; P < .001). Supply costs and charges increased by 37% and 43%, respectively (P < .001).
Conclusion:
AF ablation with the Sphere-9 catheter was associated with improved procedural efficiency, low complication rates, high same-day discharge, and favorable early effectiveness. These gains were offset by substantial increases in supply costs.
