Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Ablation With Contact Force–Sensing Catheter

This study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF) using a porous tip contact force–sensing catheter. Although the safety and effectiveness of catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation are established, there are limited data on outcomes in patients with PsAF. As such, no ablation catheter is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for PsAF ablation. The prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized PRECEPT (Prospective Review of the Safety and Effectiveness of the THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF Catheter Evaluated for Treating Symptomatic PersistenT AF) study was conducted at 27 sites in the United States and Canada. Enrollment criteria included documented symptomatic PsAF and nonresponse or intolerance to ≥1 antiarrhythmic drug (Class I or III). An individualized treatment approach was used including pulmonary vein isolation with ablation of additional targets permitted at the investigators' discretion. To optimize treatment outcomes, a 3-month post-ablation medication adjustment period followed by a 3-month therapy consolidation period were included. Arrhythmia recurrences were stringently monitored by monthly and symptomatic transtelephonic monitoring, electrocardiography, and Holter monitoring for up to 15 months after ablation. Of 381 enrolled participants, 348 had the investigational catheter inserted and underwent ablation. The primary adverse event rate was 4.1% (15 events in 14 participants). Kaplan-Meier analyses estimated a primary effectiveness success rate of 61.7% and a clinical success rate of 80.4% at 15 months. The results demonstrate the clinical safety and effectiveness of PsAF ablation using contact force–sensing technologies. The primary adverse event was within the expected range and similar to those reported in historical studies of paroxysmal AF ablation. (Prospective Review of the Safety and Effectiveness of the THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF Catheter Evaluated for Treating Symptomatic PersistenT AF; NCT02817776)