Use of the LocaLisa mapping system during ablation procedures in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

INTRODUCTION LocaLisa is a novel system for anatomical mapping. It enables an assessment of the three-dimensional position of electrodes within cardiac chambers without fluoroscopy. With this technique it may be possible to reduce radiation exposure during catheter-based ablation procedures. AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ablation procedures performed using the LocaLisa mapping system in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). METHODOLOGY This study evaluated the course of the first 26 ablations performed using the LocaLisa system (studied group). The control group involved 30 consecutive patients with AVNRT treated with the conventional ablation technique that was routinely used prior to the introduction of the novel system into clinical practice. RESULTS In the studied group procedural duration was 72.4+/-24.9 minutes, in the control group 80.1+/-18.2 minutes (NS). However, radiation exposure was significantly lower in the examined group -- 74.4+/-109.2 mGy compared to 184.8+/-59.9 mGy in the control group (p <0.05). All procedures were successful. No complications related to the ablation were observed. CONCLUSIONS Employment of the LocaLisa mapping system enables the reduction of fluoroscopic exposure without any decrease of efficacy or elevation of risk of any complications during AVNRT ablations.