Noninvasive continuous arterial pressure monitoring shortens atrial fibrillation ablation procedural duration

FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Type of funding sources: None. INTRODUCTION: Transcatheter atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is in most centres commonly carried out with continuous invasive radial arterial blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Novel devices enable continuous non-invasive BP monitoring, with acceptable agreement and optimal safety profile when compared to standard of care invasive BP monitoring, leading to improved patient comfort in the electrophysiology lab. PURPOSE: Aim of the study was to assess in terms of procedural efficiency continuous non-invasive BP monitoring during transcatheter atrial fibrillation ablation. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 42 consecutive patients (age 61±9 years, 80% male) undergoing transcatheter AF ablation (60% paroxysmal, 40% persistent) at our centre undergoing AF ablation with continuous BP measurement using a non-invasive finger volume clamp device. We then compared them with an historical cohort of 42 consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation (62% paroxysmal, 38% persistent) with standard of care invasive BP monitoring with a radial cannula. We compared the two groups in terms of total procedural duration (in and out from the EP lab). RESULTS: Mean total procedural duration was 165,29±54,95 minutes in the non-invasive group and 196,55±46,67 minutes in the invasive group (P=0,006). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing AF ablation, non-invasive finger volume-clamp continuous BP monitoring allowed for a significant reduction of total procedural duration when compared to standard of care invasive BP monitoring. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results. [Figure: see text] [Figure: see text]