Arrhythmias & electrophysiology

Variability in Tissue Interface Temperature During Pulse Field Atrial Ablation: Implications for Real-Time Contact Assessment

Circ Arrhythm ElectrophysiolPublished retrospective single-center study

Authors' conclusion

Lattice-tip temperatures during PFA vary substantially, with right superior pulmonary vein sites often demonstrating a blunted temperature response compared with other sites. Peak and average temperatures correlated with lesion depth.

Study context

Population
Patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation using the lattice-tip catheterconsecutive patients, 2779 pulse field lesions analyzed
Participants
41 patients
Outcome
Peak and average interface temperature
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients, mixed-effects model, swine analysis
  • Consecutive patients
  • Mixed-effects model
  • Swine analysis

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Mean peak temperature

41.7±2.2 °C

range, 37.2 °C-52.8 °C

Average temperature

39.5±1.4 °C

range, 36.4 °C-46.9 °C

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Temperatures exceeding 50 °C

Lesions exceeding 50 °C
10 of 2779 (0.4%)
Of these 10, in the anterosuperior left superior pulmonary vein
5/10

Univariate associations with peak temperature

Previous lesion temperature, r (95% CI 0.63-0.67; P <0.001)
0.65
Time between lesions, r (−0.19 to −0.11; P <0.001)
−0.15
Percentage impedance drop, r (95% CI 0.16-0.23; P <0.001)
0.20

Peak temperature by location after multivariable analysis

Right carina
39.7 °C
Anterosuperior right superior pulmonary vein
40.9 °C
Right superior pulmonary vein roof
40.5 °C
  • Significantly lowest at these locations

Lesion depth vs temperature (swine)

Peak temperature, R (95% CI 0.20-0.75; P =0.003)
0.53
Average temperature, R (95% CI 0.16-0.73; P =0.007)
0.49

Original publication

Variability in Tissue Interface Temperature During Pulse Field Atrial Ablation: Implications for Real-Time Contact Assessment. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. Published 20 April 2026. doi:10.1161/circep.125.014310

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