Esophageal luminal temperature monitoring using a multi-sensor probe lowers the risk of esophageal injury in cryo and radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

Background Esophageal luminal temperature monitoring is a commonly used strategy to reduce esophageal thermal injury in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AFib). Objectives We sought to compare the incidence of endoscopically detected esophageal lesions (EDEL) between two commonly used esophageal luminal temperature probes. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing ablation with esophageal luminal temperature monitoring and upper endoscopy within 24 h after ablation were included. Results Four hundred forty-five patients (64 ± 10 years, 44% female) were included. Esophageal temperature monitoring was done with a single-sensor probe in 213 (48%) and multi-sensor probe in 232 (52%). Cryoballoon (CB) ablation was performed in 118 (27%) and radiofrequency (RF) ablation in 327 (73%) of patients. EDEL was present in 94 (22.9%) of which 85 were mild, 8 were moderate, and 1 was severe, and none progressed to atrial-esophageal fistula. The use of the multi-sensor probe during CB ablation was associated with a reduction in EDEL compared to single sensor (6.8% vs 24.3%; P = 0.016). Similarly, in the RF ablation group, EDEL was present in 19.5% of the multi-sensor group vs 32.8% in the single-sensor group ( P = 0.001). Logistic regression showed that multi-sensor probe use was associated with reduction in EDEL with an odds ratio of 0.23 in CB ablation ( P = 0.024) and 0.44 for RF ablation ( P = 0.001). Conclusions Esophageal luminal temperature monitoring during AFib ablation using a multi-sensor probe was associated with a significant reduction in EDEL compared to a single-sensor probe.