nMARQ Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Results from a Multicenter Study

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Abstract
NMARQ AF Ablation: Background: nMARQ is a multipolar catheter designed to simultaneously ablate at multiple sites around the pulmonary vein (PV) circumference with a single radiofrequency application. We sought to define the safety and efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation with the nMARQ catheter.Methods: In a multicenter study, patients with drug‐refractory AF were included. Procedural outcomes were documented at 1 year.Results: 374 patients underwent PV isolation using nMARQ (age 60 ± 10 years, 264 male), of whom 263 patients had paroxysmal AF (PAF), while 111 patients had persistent AF. A total of 1,468 of 1,474 veins (99.6%) were isolated with the nMARQ catheter alone. Thirty‐five (13%) PAF patients and 30 (27%) persistent AF patients underwent additional ablation at non‐PV sites (2.4 ± 1.4 non‐PV sites). Procedure time for PV isolation only was 1.9 ± 0.7 hours (fluoroscopy 24 ± 14 minutes). Procedure time for PV isolation and non‐PV ablation was 2.4 ± 1.0 hours (fluoroscopy 30 ± 23 minutes). Major adverse events occurred in two patients (0.5%); one esophago‐pericardial fistula and a second, mortality due to sepsis of unknown cause. One‐year follow‐up data were available in 65 (25%) PAF and 20 (18%) persistent AF patients. Forty‐two (65%) PAF and 13 (65%) persistent AF patients were free of arrhythmia at 1 year. In patients undergoing repeat procedures (n = 17) the most frequent points of PV reconnection were: anterior RSPV, inferior RIPV, and superior LSPV.Conclusions: AF ablation with nMARQ is associated with short procedure times and high acute success rates. Further research is necessary to more clearly define long‐term outcome.
Funding Information
  • European Union Seventh Framework Programme (HEALTH-F2-2010-261057)

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