LAUSR

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of high-power short-duration (HP-SD) ablation compared to conventional ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods We enrolled consecutive 158 drug-refractory symptomatic AF patients (119 males, mean age 63 ± 10 years) who had undergone first radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). PVI was performed using the conventional setting (20–35 W) in 73 patients (Conventional group) and using the HP-SD setting (45–50 W) in 85 patients (HP-SD group). The rate of first pass isolation, remaining gaps after circumferential ablation, dormant conduction, and the radiofrequency application time in each pulmonary vein (PV) were compared between the groups. Results The first pass isolation ratio was significantly higher in the HP-SD group than in the Conventional group (81% vs. 65%, P  = 0.027) in the right PV, but did not differ in the left PV. The remaining gaps were fewer in the right superior PV (4% vs. 21%, P  = 0.001) and left inferior PV (1% vs. 8%, P  = 0.032) areas, and the radiofrequency application time in each PV was shorter (right PV, 12.0 ± 8.9 min vs. 34.0 ± 31.7 min, P  < 0.001; left PV, 10.6 ± 3.6 min vs. 25.7 ± 22.3 min, P  < 0.001) in the HP-SD group than in the Conventional group. Conclusion The use of the HP-SD setting might contribute to improve the first pass isolation rate and to shorten the radiofrequency application time in each PV.