Biotronik’s AlCath Gold ablation catheter, together with the maximum voltage-guided (MVG) technique for radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial flutter, has demonstrated improved ablation success rate compared to conventional procedures.
AURUM 8 is a randomised atrial flutter ablation study, comprising of a total of 463 patients undergoing cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation and were treated either using an 8mm gold-tip catheter or an 8mm platinum-iridium-tip catheter.
In the study, 72 patients were treated with the MVG technique, and the post-hoc analysis demonstrated that MVG technique reduced ablation time, the number of lesions, fluoroscopy time, the procedure duration and the energy delivered, compared to anatomic CTI ablation.
The subgroup analysis also confirmed previous results of AURUM 8 reporting that the MVG technique has advantages over gold-tip catheter.
Isar Heart Center Munich, Germany, Medical Center for Cardiology and Internal Intensive Care professor Thorsten Lewalter said the results of the post-hoc analysis show the MVG technique is preferred over conventional CTI ablation due to an increased acute success rate, shorter ablation times and less charring.
"Further analysis showed that using a gold-tip catheter with the MVG technique ensures optimal clinical and health economical outcomes," Lewalter added.
Biotronik managing director Werner Braun said: "Compared with platinum, they provide four times greater thermal conductivity, maintain a cooler tip-temperature, facilitate fast and efficient lesion formation, and reduce coagulation resulting in reduced catheter exchange rates during the procedure."
Biotronik is a manufacturer of cardiovascular medical devices which offer solutions for all phases of patient care, ranging from diagnosis to treatment to patient management.
