Cavo-Tricuspid Isthmus Block Durability After Pulsed Electric Field Ablation

Background Cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation is commonly performed as a concomitant procedure in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) or more extensive left atrial ablations for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). While the acute and long-term resumption of conduction in the CTI after radiofrequency ablation has already been investigated, the acute durability of the CTI block created by pulsed-electric field (PEF) energy has not been systematically evaluated.

Study population A prospective, multicentric randomized study conducted at high-volume centre with the routine use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). A total of 150 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing PVI by PEF energy with documented typical atrial flutter or patients with persistent AF in whom catheter ablation of CTI is planned as a part of a complex procedure will be enrolled in the study.

Methods Procedures will be performed under general anaesthesia (GA) or deep analgo-sedation and on uninterrupted anticoagulation. One decapolar catheter will be introduced into the coronary sinus (CS). A duodecapolar catheter will be placed in the right atrium around the tricuspid annulus. A single transseptal puncture will be performed under ICE guidance. After obtaining the left atrial (LA) access, the Faradrive sheath will be redrawn into the right atrium. Patient presenting with AF or other atrial arrhythmias at the beginning of the procedure will be cardioverted. Prior to initiating pulsed field ablation (PFA) on the CTI, sublingual nitrates will be administered in the form of two sprays of nitroglycerin at a dose of 0.30 mg per spray. The CTI ablation will be performed during regular atrial pacing from the proximal CS at a cycle length of 600 ms. Sequential applications of PEF energy will be delivered in an overlapping fashion from the tricuspid annulus to the inferior cava vein under ICE guidance. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio based on the configuration of the catheter used to achieve CTI block (basket vs. flower). In both groups, three applications will be deployed at each spot. If acute block is not achievable using the randomized configuration, patients will be ablated using the other configuration and any additional lesions per operator discretion to achieve acute block. After demonstrating the bidirectional CTI block with standard pacing maneuvers (differential pacing from duodecapolar catheter and proximal CS), the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) will be analyzed across all 12 leads to evaluate for the presence of ST segment elevation. The left atrial procedure will be then performed during regular atrial pacing from the proximal CS. An eventual conduction recovery over the CTI and the corresponding time since the last ablation on the CTI will be recorded. Dormant conduction over the CTI will be assessed using an I.V. bolus of 12-18 mg of adenosine during continuous atrial pacing immediately after the confirmation of the CTI block and at the end of the procedure. The total waiting time and number of PEF applications on the CTI will be documented. At the end of the procedure, additional PEF applications per operator discretion on the CTI will be delivered if needed.

Sample size While no clear data on comparison of different Farapulse configurations on CTI are available, with 150 patients in the trial at a given expected acute success rate of 85 % in basket configuration given our clinical experience and a noninferiority design, a noninferiority margin of 15% at a power level of 82% can be tested.

Plasmatic biomarkers Venous blood samples for the assessment of plasma biomarkers (free hemoglobin [fHb], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], total bilirubin, and haptoglobin) will be collected at two time points: before the procedure (T1) and after CTI isolation before LA ablation (T2).

Clinical implications

1. Achieving CTI block at the beginning of the catheter ablation of AF may provide sufficient waiting time to verify the durability of the block on TCI and thus enhance the long-term clinical effect of the procedure.
2. An absence of adenosine-induced CTI reconnection immediately after the CTI block could predict the durability of block at the end of the procedure and obviate the need for prolonged waiting period.
3. The use of the flower configuration to achieve CTI block could be associated with a non-inferior acute success rate and lower incidence of hemolysis.