From the Cardiovascular Section/Department of Medicine, University of
Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, Oklahoma City; and the Department of Cardiology, Heart Lung Institute,
University Hospital Utrecht, Netherlands (F.H.M.W.).
Correspondence to Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine/Cardiovascular Section, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 920 S.L. Young Blvd, WP3120, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. E-mail hiroshi-nakagawa{at}ouhsc.edu
Background—Clinical efficacy has
driven the use of larger electrodes (7F, length
Methods and Results—In 11 anesthetized dogs, the thigh
muscle was exposed and bathed with heparinized canine blood. A 7F
ablation catheter with a 2- or 5-mm irrigated tip electrode was
positioned perpendicular or parallel to the thigh muscle.
Radiofrequency current was delivered at constant voltage (50 V) for 30
seconds during saline irrigation (20 mL/min) to 148 sites. Tissue
temperature at depths of 3.5 and 7 mm and lesion size were
measured. In the perpendicular electrode-tissue orientation,
radiofrequency applications at 50 V with the 2-mm electrode compared
with the 5-mm electrode resulted in lower power at 50 V (26 versus 36
W) but higher tissue temperatures, larger lesion depth (8.0 versus
5.4 mm), and greater diameter (12.4 mm versus 8.4 mm).
Also, in the parallel orientation, overall power was lower with the
2-mm electrode (25 versus 33 W), but tissue temperatures were higher
and lesions were deeper (7.3 versus 6.9 mm). Lesion diameter was
similar (11.1 versus 11.3 mm) for both electrodes.
Conclusions—The smaller electrode resulted in transmission of a
greater fraction of the radiofrequency power to the tissue and resulted
in higher tissue temperature, larger lesions, and lower dependency of
lesion size on the electrode orientation.
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.
Basic Science Reports
Inverse Relationship Between Electrode Size and Lesion Size During Radiofrequency Ablation With Active Electrode Cooling
4 mm) for
radiofrequency ablation, which reduces electrogram resolution and
causes variability in tissue contact depending on electrode
orientation. With active cooling, ablation electrode size may be
reduced. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of
electrode length on tissue temperature and lesion size with saline
irrigation used for active cooling.
Key Words: catheter ablation • tachyarrhythmias
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