Occurrence of Steam Pops During Irrigated RF Ablation: Novel Insights from Microwave Radiometry

The disparity between catheter and tissue temperatures during irrigated RF ablation frustrates one's ability to predict steam pops. Microwave radiometry allows for “volumetric” temperature assessment—i.e., within a circumscribed volume around the catheter tip‐permitting, direct assessment of temperature during ablation. The aim of this study was to examine (i) the ability of microwave radiometry to predict steam pops, and (ii) compare this to traditional parameters such as power, catheter temperature, and impedance.

[1]  Jens Seiler,et al.  Steam pops during irrigated radiofrequency ablation: feasibility of impedance monitoring for prevention. , 2008, Heart rhythm.

[2]  J. Wharton,et al.  Radiofrequency Delivery Through a Cooled Catheter Tip Allows the Creation of Larger Endomyocardial Lesions in the Ovine Heart , 1995, Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology.

[3]  M. Niebauer,et al.  Relation between impedance and temperature during radiofrequency ablation of accessory pathways. , 1995, American heart journal.

[4]  Sébastien Roujol,et al.  Feasibility of fast MR‐thermometry during cardiac radiofrequency ablation , 2012, NMR in biomedicine.

[5]  Pipin Kojodjojo,et al.  Outcomes of Cardiac Perforation Complicating Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias , 2011, Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology.

[6]  H. Lambert,et al.  Novel Contact Force Sensor Incorporated in Irrigated Radiofrequency Ablation Catheter Predicts Lesion Size and Incidence of Steam Pop and Thrombus , 2008, Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology.

[7]  Fred H M Wittkampf,et al.  RF Catheter Ablation: Lessons on Lesions , 2006, Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE.

[8]  R Lazzara,et al.  Comparison of in vivo tissue temperature profile and lesion geometry for radiofrequency ablation with a saline-irrigated electrode versus temperature control in a canine thigh muscle preparation. , 1995, Circulation.

[9]  K Y Liang,et al.  Longitudinal data analysis for discrete and continuous outcomes. , 1986, Biometrics.

[10]  Mark S. Mirotznik,et al.  Biophysics of Radiofrequency Ablation Using an Irrigated Electrode , 2001, Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology.

[11]  Aravindan Kolandaivelu,et al.  Noninvasive Assessment of Tissue Heating During Cardiac Radiofrequency Ablation Using MRI Thermography , 2008, Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology.

[12]  Ralph Lazzara,et al.  Comparison of Electrode Cooling Between Internal and Open Irrigation in Radiofrequency Ablation Lesion Depth and Incidence of Thrombus and Steam Pop , 2005, Circulation.

[13]  W. Stevenson,et al.  Ablation with an internally irrigated radiofrequency catheter: learning how to avoid steam pops. , 2004, Heart rhythm.

[14]  Mark E. Josephson,et al.  Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Epicardial Tissue: A Comparison of Standard and Cooled-Tip Radiofrequency Energy , 2004, Circulation.

[15]  F. Sacher,et al.  Incidence and Prevention of Cardiac Tamponade Complicating Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation , 2005, Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE.

[16]  Aravinda Thiagalingam,et al.  Importance of Catheter Contact Force During Irrigated Radiofrequency Ablation: Evaluation in a Porcine Ex Vivo Model Using a Force‐Sensing Catheter , 2010, Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology.