Comparison of standard and irrigated radiofrequency ablation in the canine ventricle

Radiofrequency ablation is successful for treating some arrhythmias but not for CAD-VT, possibly due to insufficient lesion size. Irrigated electrodes were developed to apply higher power for longer duration to create larger lesions. Our objective was to characterize and compare irrigated and standard ablation in terms of lesion size, crater, and coagulum formation. Additionally, a method is proposed for creating large irrigated lesions without craters.

Three ablation protocols were conducted in canine ventricles. Protocol I: standard ablation was performed in power mode at 10, 20, 30, and 50 W, and electrode-temperature mode at 70 degrees and 90 degrees C (120 sec). Protocol II: irrigated ablation was conducted with 30 and 50 W (30 and 120 sec). Protocol III: to create large lesions without craters, irrigated ablation was performed at 20 W (5 and 10 min). With a standard electrode, the largest lesions were created using 20 W (358+/-194 mm3) and using 90 degrees C (301+/-130 mm3). Ablation duration decreased with power for the power mode standard ablations. The largest irrigated lesions were formed using 50 W (986+/-357 mm3). Large lesions without craters were created with irrigation using 20 W for 10 minutes (602+/-175 mm3). Coagulum was seen for most standard ablations but infrequently for irrigated ablations. Craters were observed with 30 and 50 W irrigated ablation but were not observed with 20 W irrigated ablation.

Irrigated ablation created larger lesions than standard; large lesions may be created without craters using moderate power and long duration.