TY - JOUR AU - Schreiber, Tobias AU - von Rennenberg, Regina AU - Brämswig, Tim Bastian AU - Landmesser, Ulf AU - Hindricks, Gerhard AU - Nagel, Patrick AU - Tscholl, Verena AU - Huemer, Martin AU - Lucas, Johannes AU - Attanasio, Philipp AU - Nolte, Christian H TI - Comparison of Cerebral Micro-Embolization Detected by Transcranial Doppler Examination Between Radiofrequency Ablation and Pulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation. JO - Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology VL - 36 IS - 12 SN - 1045-3873 CY - Oxford PB - Wiley-Blackwell M1 - DZNE-2025-01358 SP - 3288 - 3295 PY - 2025 AB - Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) can establish pulmonary vein isolation via irreversible electroporation and is believed to reduce overall complications; however, periprocedural stroke has also been reported after PFA procedures. Assessment of microembolic signals (MES) measured by transcranial doppler (TCD) allows to monitor cerebral embolization during the procedure and to identify higher risk procedural steps. This study was designed to compare the incidence of MES during different procedural steps between two different PFA systems and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).Pulmonary vein isolation was performed either using either high-power short-duration radiofrequency ablation (HPSD RFA), or PFA using a variable loop circular catheter (VLCC) or a circular multielectrode array catheter (CMAC). MES were compared during transseptal puncture, ablation, left atrial mapping, and introduction/retraction of catheters. Neurological examination was performed pre and post ablation for all patients including the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Fifty-six consecutive patients (19 female (34 KW - atrial fibrillation (Other) KW - microembolism (Other) KW - pulsed field ablation (Other) KW - radiofrequency ablation (Other) LB - PUB:(DE-HGF)16 C6 - pmid:41078013 DO - DOI:10.1111/jce.70140 UR - https://pub.dzne.de/record/282600 ER -