Preclinical Study of Pulsed Field Ablation of Difficult Ventricular Targets: Intracavitary Mobile Structures, Interventricular Septum, and Left Ventricular Free Wall

Background: Endocardial catheter-based pulsed field ablation (PFA) of the ventricular myocardium is promising. However, little is known about PFA's ability to target intracavitary structures, epicardium, and ways to achieve transmural lesions across thick ventricular tissue.

Methods: A lattice-tip catheter was used to deliver biphasic monopolar PFA to swine ventricles under general anesthesia, with electroanatomical mapping, fluoroscopy and intracardiac echocardiography guidance. We conducted experiments to assess the feasibility and safety of repetitive monopolar PFA applications to ablate (1) intracavitary papillary muscles and moderator bands, (2) epicardial targets, and (3) bipolar PFA for midmyocardial targets in the interventricular septum and left ventricular free wall.

Results: (1) Papillary muscles (n=13) were successfully ablated and then evaluated at 2, 7, and 21 days. Nine lesions with stable contact measured 18.3±2.4 mm long, 15.3±1.5 mm wide, and 5.8±1.0 mm deep at 2 days. Chronic lesions demonstrated preserved chordae without mitral regurgitation. Two targeted moderator bands were transmurally ablated without structural disruption. (2) Transatrial saline/carbon dioxide assisted epicardial access was obtained successfully and epicardial monopolar lesions had a mean length, width, and depth of 30.4±4.2, 23.5±4.1, and 9.1±1.9 mm, respectively. (3) Bipolar PFA lesions were delivered across the septum (n=11) and the left ventricular free wall (n=7). Twelve completed bipolar lesions had a mean length, width, and depth of 29.6±5.5, 21.0±7.3, and 14.3±4.7 mm, respectively. Chronically, these lesions demonstrated uniform fibrotic changes without tissue disruption. Bipolar lesions were significantly deeper than the monopolar epicardial lesions.

Conclusions: This in vivo evaluation demonstrates that PFA can successfully ablate intracavitary structures and create deep epicardial lesions and transmural left ventricular lesions.