A Prospective Observational Study Evaluating the Incidence of Silent Cerebral Lesions and Procedural Safety Following Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using the VARIPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation System

Main Questions the Study Aims to Answer:

What percentage of patients develop silent cerebral lesions after PFA using the VARIPULSE system?

What are the lesion characteristics (number, size, and location) and total lesion burden on MRI?

Are there any early neurological or cognitive changes related to these MRI findings?

Comparison:

This is an observational, single-arm study with no active control group. However, the findings will be compared with historical data from previous studies of thermal ablation (radiofrequency and cryoballoon) to explore potential differences in neurological safety.

Participant Activities:

Participants in this study will:

Undergo brain MRI (DWI and FLAIR sequences) within 1-3 days after PFA to detect any silent cerebral lesions.

Complete neurological and cognitive assessments (for example, tests of memory, language, and attention) to identify subtle functional changes.

Receive routine clinical follow-up for AF management according to institutional standard of care.

Background:

Silent cerebral lesions are small ischemic brain injuries seen on MRI that cause no immediate symptoms but have been linked to later cognitive decline and increased risk of clinical stroke. They are known to occur in 10-40 % of patients after conventional AF ablation using radiofrequency or cryoballoon energy. Because PFA employs electrical pulses rather than heat, its effects on cerebral safety may differ. The VARIPULSE system integrates a variable-loop, multipolar PFA catheter with a three-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping system to improve procedural precision and reduce risk.

Significance:

As PFA use expands in clinical practice, understanding its neurological safety is crucial. This study will provide quantitative MRI data and standardized neurological evaluations to define the cerebral safety profile of PFA. The results are expected to inform procedural optimization and help establish evidence-based strategies for safer AF ablation.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation using the Varipulse™ catheter

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals under 19 years of age
• Patients who undergo concomitant radiofrequency ablation of the left atrium during the procedure
• Patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Patients who have previously undergone ablation or surgery for atrial fibrillation
• Patients with intracardiac thrombus or embolic events within the past 90 days
• Patients who have experienced cardiac surgery or acute coronary syndrome within the past 90 days
• Patients with contraindications to oral anticoagulant therapy, or those who require temporary discontinuation of anticoagulation due to procedural complications (e.g., cardiac tamponade)
• Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 35%
• Women who are currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period
• Patients with a life expectancy of less than one year
• Patients at increased risk during MRI scanning (e.g., those with pacemakers or other metallic implants affected by MRI, or those with severe claustrophobia)