Comparison of electrode cooling between closed loop and open irrigation in radiofrequency lesion depth, thrombus and steam pop

Abstract

During ablation in temperature control mode, radiofrequency (RF) power and lesion depth are limited by the amount of local blood flow for cooling the electrode-tissue interface. Active cooling by circulating fluid within the electrode (closed loop, CL) or open saline irrigation (OP) allows sustained high RF power to produce deeper lesions, even at sites with low blood flow. The purpose of this study was to compare lesion depth and incidence of thrombus formation and steam pop between CL and OP, using a canine model.