High-Power Short-Duration Radiofrequency Application for Faster and Safer Pulmonary Vein Isolation: The POWER-FAST III Trial.

BACKGROUND

The optimal radiofrequency application (RFa) parameters for safe and durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) are debated. High-power short-duration (HPSD) has been used as an alternative to conventional power delivery (CPD).

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to compare HPSD 70 W/9-10 s (HPSD-70) with CPD 25-40 W in patients undergoing PVI.

METHODS

Patients were randomized to HPSD-70 or CPD (25-40). The primary outcomes were freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrences and the incidence of esophageal thermal lesions (EDELs) after ablation.

RESULTS

Among 304 patients randomized, 301 remained in the study (median age: 61 years; Q1-Q3: 53-69 years; 72% men): 294 patients (97.7%) underwent ablation, 285 (94.7%) underwent endoscopy, and 290 (98.6%) completed the follow-up. At 12 months, 100 patients (73.5%) in the CPD (25-40) group and 87 patients (67%) in the HPSD-70 group were free from recurrences off antiarrhythmic drugs (HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 0.82-1.99; P = 0.28). The incidences of EDELs were 2.7% in the CPD (25-40) group and 3.6% in the HPSD-70 group (P = 0.94). Median left atrial dwell (153 vs 137 min; P = 0.03) and total RF times for definitive PVI (31 vs 11.2 min; P < 0.001) were shorter with HPSD-70 ablation. Four symptomatic embolic events (2 strokes, 1 transient ischemic attack, and 1 splenic infarct) occurred with HPSD-70 and none with CPD (25-40) RFa (P = 0.056).

CONCLUSIONS

HPSD-70 RFa was noninferior to prevent arrhythmia recurrences, and the incidence of EDELs was similar compared with CPD (25-40) RFa. The embolic events were numerically higher in the HPSD-70 group. (High Radiofrequency Power for Faster and Safer Pulmonary Vein Ablation Trial [POWER FAST III]; NCT04153747).