The assessment of pulmonary vein potentials using the new achieve advance during cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: The new version of inner lumen mapping catheter (Achieve Advance™; Medtronic, Minnesota, USA) includes a new solid core which provides improved rotational response, as compared to the current Achieve Mapping Catheter. In the present study, we sought to analyze the rate of visualisation of real-time recordings using this new device comparing it with a large cohort of patients having undergone second generation cryoballoon (CB) ablation using the previous Achieve mapping catheter. METHODS: All patients having undergone CB ablation using the Achieve Advance and the last 150 consecutive patients having undergone CB ablation using the previous Achieve were analysed. Exclusion criteria were presence of an intracavitary thrombus, uncontrolled heart failure, moderate or severe valvular disease and contraindications to general anesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 200 consecutive patients (60.1 ± 9.5 years, 75% males) were evaluated (50 Achieve Advance and 150 old Achieve). Real-time recordings were significantly more prevalent in the “new Achieve Advance” population compared with the “old Achieve” group (73.5% vs 56.8%; p = 0.0001). Real-time recordings could be more frequently visualized in the “Achieve Advance” group in all veins except RIPV (LSPV: 86% vs 71.3%, p = 0.04; LIPV: 84% vs 62.7%, p = 0.005; RSPV: 78% vs 52%, p < 0.0001; RIPV: 46% vs 41.3%, p = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of visualisation of real-time recordings is significantly higher using the new Achieve Advance if compared to the previous Achieve mapping catheter in the setting of CB ablation. Real-time recordings can be visualized in approximately 73.5% of veins with this new device.