3 Results
3.1 Patient Characteristics
Data from 183 patients undergoing RF PVI ablation were reviewed. No patients in the 24 month timeframe reviewed were excluded and patient ages in the two groups were similar. In the pre-adoption cohort, the average age was 69.6 years (SD ± 10.34), and in the post-adoption cohort, the average age was 68.3 years (SD ± 10.28)(p = 0.420).
3.2 Ablation Protocol
Patients were treated under general anesthesia. Wide area circumferential PVI with additional PWI was performed as determined necessary by the operator. Anticoagulation was administered with a heparinized target activated clotting time of >300 seconds. The CARTO® mapping system (Biosense Webster, Inc., Diamond Bar, CA) was used to obtain electroanatomical maps and create a three-dimensional geometry. Intracardiac echocardiography was used, as was an irrigated ablation catheter with contact force sensing (ThermoCool® SmartTouch® Surround Flow (STSF) catheter, Biosense Webster, Inc., Diamond Bar, CA). Power settings were 40 W, with a Visitag Surpoint® ablation index (Biosense Webster, Inc.) of 350 to 400 units on the posterior wall, and 450 to 550 units on the anterior wall, lateral wall, and septum targeted.
3.3 Procedure Characteristics
In the pre-adoption cohort, all patients were treated with 2 weeks of daily sucralfate and pantoprazole after ablation, with an additional 4 weeks added in case of persisting symptoms. In the post-adoption group, prophylactic treatment was changed to 2 days of sucralfate and pantoprazole after ablation. In the post-adoption cohort, 79 (84.5%) patients received roof lines, while only 62 patients (68.9%) received roof lines in the pre-adoption cohort (Table 1 and Figure 2).Similarly, in the post-adoption cohort, 75 (80.6%) patients received floor lines, while only 60 (66.7%) patients received floor lines in the pre-adoption cohort (Table 1 and Figure 2).