Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background:
Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) has gained widespread adoption for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) due to its tissue selectivity and safety profile. However, its role in cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation for typical atrial flutter is less defined. This study compares CTI ablation using PFA versus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients undergoing PVI exclusively with PFA.
Research Question:
We hypothesized that in patients undergoing PFA-based PVI, CTI ablation using PFA would reduce procedure and fluoroscopy times without increasing complication or flutter recurrence rates compared to RFA.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent CTI ablation with either PFA or RFA alongside PFA PVI between 2024 – 2025 across all Mayo Clinic sites. Baseline characteristics, procedural parameters, acute success, and 12-month arrhythmia recurrence were compared between groups. All patients received standard follow-up, including ECGs and Holter monitoring.
Results:
A total of 350 patients were included (CTI PFA: n = 126; CTI RFA: n = 224). Patients in the PFA group were older (68.8 ± 8.5 vs. 65.7 ± 10.1 years; p <0.01) and had higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores (2.84 ± 1.57 vs. 2.45 ± 1.45; p = 0.02). Fluoroscopy (18.9 ± 9.1 vs. 25.2 ± 23.3 min; p < 0.01 ) and procedure times (172.6 ± 22.4 vs. 224.7 ± 74.2 min; p < 0.01) were significantly lower in the PFA group. Complication rates (8.7% vs. 4.9%; p = 0.15) and typical flutter recurrence (3.1% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.46) were similar between groups during a mean follow-up of 125 days.
Conclusion:
In patients undergoing PVI with PFA, CTI ablation using PFA is associated with significantly reduced procedure and fluoroscopy times compared to RFA, without increased complications or arrhythmia recurrence. These findings support the feasibility and efficiency of PFA for typical flutter ablation when performed during PFA-based AF procedures.