Prashanthan Sanders, MBBS, PhD, FHRS, of University of Adelaide is joined by guests Han S. Lim, MBBS, PhD, FHRS, of Austin and Northern Health, University of Melbourne, and Venkatakrishna N. Tholakanahalli, MD, FHRS, of Minneapolis VA Health Care System to discuss Atrioesophageal Fistula Rates Before and After Adoption of Active Esophageal Cooling During Atrial Fibrillation Ablation. This institutional review board (IRB)-approved study was a prospective analysis of retrospective data, designed before collecting and analyzing the real-world data. The number of AEFs occurring in equivalent time frames before and after adoption of cooling using a dedicated esophageal cooling device (ensoETM, Attune Medical) were quantified across 25 prespecified hospital systems. AEF rates were then compared using generalized estimating equations robust to cluster correlation. A total of 14,224 patients received active esophageal cooling during RF ablation across the 25 hospital systems, which included a total of 30 separate hospitals.

https://www.hrsonline.org/education/TheLead

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405500X23006734?via%3Dihub

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pbrQyW9Yqf-da0KceRueP01kS9WIgwmK/view (Visual Aid)

Host Disclosure(s):

P. Sanders: Research (Contracted Grants for PIs Named Investigators Only): Boston Scientific, Abbott, Medtronic, PaceMate, Becton Dickinson, CathRx; Advisory Committee Membership: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, PaceMate, CathRx

Contributor Disclosure(s):

H. Lim: No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

V. Tholakanahalli: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Kobra Medical, Imricor; Research (Contracted Grants for PIs Named Investigators Only): Biosense, St. Jude Medical, Cardailen