Procedural Characteristics
The majority of left atrial ablation procedures evaluated were for treatment of atrial fibrillation. Of the 100 patients in the usual care ablation cohort, 85 received treatment for atrial fibrillation, 4 for left sided accessory pathway, and 12 for left atrial tachycardia. Of the 100 patients in the protocol guided ablation cohort, 93 received treatment for atrial fibrillation, 5 for left sided accessory pathway, and 2 for left atrial tachycardia.
The average number of ACT’s drawn per procedure were similar between each cohort, as an average of 5.9 ± 2.4 were drawn in the usual care cohort, as opposed to 5.7 ± 2.4 in the protocol guided cohort. The average time to ACT after initial heparin bolus was 25 ± 13 minutes in the usual care, and 25 ± 13 minutes in the protocol guided cohorts. There was a difference in timing of heparin administered with regard to transseptal puncture, as heparin was administered prior to transseptal puncture in the usual care cohort at a lower rate (77%), compared the protocol guided arm (94%). The initial heparin bolus was split (before and after transseptal puncture) in a high proportion in the usual care cohort (30%), when compared to the protocol guided cohort (13%).