Fehmi Keçe

Predicting Early Reconnection with Procedural and Biophysical Parameters 149 7 vs 24% (p=0.028) of the PVs were significantly higher in the ERC group. Time-to-isolation could be measured in 80% of the PVs during ablation and was significant longer in the ERC group (70±30 vs 48±28 s). Procedural details are displayed in table 2. Table 2. Procedural Characteristics. Per patient (n=136) or per vein (n=575) No ERC (n=96/522) ERC (n=40/53) P value Procedure Time (min), mean 125±34 150±40 <0.001 Total Ablation Time (min), mean 17±4 24±5 <0.001 Number of applications per patient, mean 5±1 8±2 <0.001 Balloon size (28 mm), n (%) 89 (93%) 37 (93%) 1.000 Balloon size (23 mm), n (%) 5 (5%) 1 (3%) 0.670 Ballloon size (23 and 28 mm), n (%) 2 (2%) 2 (5%) 0.581 Effective radiation dose (mSV), mean 2.7±2.6 3.5±2.5 0.081 Time to isolation (s) 48±28 70±39 0.001 Total ablation time (s) 213±41 219±43 0.302 Minimal oesophagus temperature (°C) 33±6 31±12 0.254 Unsuccessful freezes, n (%) 125 (24%) 20 (38%) 0.028 Aborted freezes, n (%) 56 (11%) 8 (15%) 0.336 7.3.3 Biophysical data The balloon temperature at 60 s (-35±6 vs -39±6 °C, p=0.004) and the nadir balloon temperature were significantly lower in the non-ERC-group (-42±9 °C vs.-47±7 °C, p<0.001). In addition, significantly shorter thawing times were achieved at 0, 15 and 20°C in the ERC group. The mean balloon temperature below 0°C was-35±7 °C in the ERC group compared to -38±5 °C in the non-ERC group (p<0.001). In table 3, an overview of all biophysical parameters is shown. 7.3.4 Early reconnection/dormant conduction Reconnection without adenosine was seen in 28 (19%) of the patients and 30 (5%) of the veins, while dormant conduction was observed in 21 (14%) patients and 28 (4%) veins. 7.3.5 Predictors of Early reconnection/dormant conduction Multivariable analysis showed that a higher number of unsuccessful freezes (HR 1.69[1.15- 2.49], p=0.008), a longer time-to-isolation (HR 1.02[1.01 – 1.03], p=0.001) and a higher nadir balloon temperature (HR 1.17[1.09 – 1.27], p<0.001) were independently associated with ERC.