Oesophageal cooling with ice water does not reduce the incidence of oesophageal lesions complicating catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: Randomized controlled study

摘要: Aim Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation can result in oesophageal injuries that lead to atrio-oesophageal fistulae, a life-threatening complication. This study aimed evaluate whether cooling could prevent lesions complicating AF ablation. Methods and Results We randomly assigned 100 patients with drug-resistant an group or control group. In the group, we injected 5 mL of ice water into oesophagus prior radiofrequency (RF) energy delivery adjacent oesophagus. If temperature reached 42°C, RF was stopped, injection repeated. not applied. Oesophageal endoscopy performed 1 day after catheter ablation, were qualitatively assessed as mild, moderate, severe. The numbers sites >42°C 1.7 ± 1.4 2.6 respectively ( P = 0.04), maximal at those 43.0 0.6 44.7 0.9°C < 0.0001). occurred almost equally between [10 50 (20%)] [11 (22%)]. However, severity slightly milder (three seven mild) than severe, one mild). Conclusion may alleviate but does reduce incidence this complication under specific protocol evaluated here.