The Effect of Contact Force in Atrial Radiofrequency Ablation

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Why is it important?

The finding that low force ablation can create effective ablation lesions is both an important, and new, finding. Higher force during ablation may be associated with greater risk of complications including cardiac perforation and damage to extra-cardiac structures. By focussing efforts on achieving catheter stability and stable, but low force, during ablation, greater procedural safety may be achieved. This study also found that high force ablation was associated with greater tissue swelling (oedema). Greater tissue swelling during ablation may actually be associated with reduced effectiveness of ablation, meaning that high force (contrary to prior expectations) may actually reduce the effectiveness of ablation procedures.