Is a single lethal electric field threshold sufficient to characterize the lesion size in computational modeling of cardiac pulsed-field ablation?

Background: Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) is a novel cardiac ablation technology based on irreversible electroporation (IRE). PFA computational models rely on identification of a lethal electric field threshold to predict the IRE area. However, the predicted lesion anisotropy ratios (width over depth)...

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Main Authors: Argyrios Petras, PhD, Gerard Amoros Figueras, PhD, Zoraida Moreno Weidmann, MD, Tomás García-Sánchez, PhD, David Viladés Medel, MD, PhD, Antoni Ivorra, PhD, Jose M. Guerra, MD, PhD, Luca Gerardo-Giorda, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Heart Rhythm O2
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666501825000790
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author Argyrios Petras, PhD
Gerard Amoros Figueras, PhD
Zoraida Moreno Weidmann, MD
Tomás García-Sánchez, PhD
David Viladés Medel, MD, PhD
Antoni Ivorra, PhD
Jose M. Guerra, MD, PhD
Luca Gerardo-Giorda, PhD
author_facet Argyrios Petras, PhD
Gerard Amoros Figueras, PhD
Zoraida Moreno Weidmann, MD
Tomás García-Sánchez, PhD
David Viladés Medel, MD, PhD
Antoni Ivorra, PhD
Jose M. Guerra, MD, PhD
Luca Gerardo-Giorda, PhD
author_sort Argyrios Petras, PhD
collection DOAJ
description Background: Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) is a novel cardiac ablation technology based on irreversible electroporation (IRE). PFA computational models rely on identification of a lethal electric field threshold to predict the IRE area. However, the predicted lesion anisotropy ratios (width over depth) vary extensively among recent studies, and these discrepancies remain a subject of discussion. Objective: This work aims to evaluate the predicted lesion anisotropy ratios using a PFA computational model by applying it to an open-chest in vivo porcine model geometry. Methods: Six domestic swine underwent epicardial PFA applications using a previously described waveform protocol. Animals were killed at least 3 hours after the last ablation, and lesions were assessed using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Numeric simulations were performed on a segmented and meshed porcine thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan, mimicking the open-chest experimental setup. Results: The maximum width of all simulated lesions was observed at the epicardial surface. The anisotropy ratios (AR) of the experimental lesions were smaller than the simulated ones (AR experimental vs simulated, 1.0–1.7 vs 2–2.7; Q1–Q3 quartiles). Increasing the peak voltage resulted in larger lesions; however, the computational model clearly underestimated the increase in lesion depth compared with the experimental data. Conclusion: Our computational model shows that a single lethal electric field threshold is insufficient to accurately predict both lesion depth and width in cardiac PFA. Our study suggests that for the given PFA waveforms, a threshold between 270 and 500 V/cm provides satisfactory lesion depth estimations, and a higher threshold between 790 and 1000 V/cm better captures the lesion width.
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spelling doaj-art-c33aa87002164c1198f58c0112e43f072025-08-20T02:33:18ZengElsevierHeart Rhythm O22666-50182025-05-016567167710.1016/j.hroo.2025.02.014Is a single lethal electric field threshold sufficient to characterize the lesion size in computational modeling of cardiac pulsed-field ablation?Argyrios Petras, PhD0Gerard Amoros Figueras, PhD1Zoraida Moreno Weidmann, MD2Tomás García-Sánchez, PhD3David Viladés Medel, MD, PhD4Antoni Ivorra, PhD5Jose M. Guerra, MD, PhD6Luca Gerardo-Giorda, PhD7RICAM–Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics, Linz, AustriaDepartment of Cardiology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBER CV, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Cardiology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBER CV, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Cardiology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBER CV, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Cardiology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBER CV, Barcelona, SpainRICAM–Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics, Linz, Austria; Institute for Mathematical Methods in Medicine and Data-Based Modelling, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria; Address reprint requests and correspondence: Luca Gerardo-Giorda, PhD, Johannes Kepler University, Altenbergerstrasse 69, A-4040, Linz, Austria.Background: Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) is a novel cardiac ablation technology based on irreversible electroporation (IRE). PFA computational models rely on identification of a lethal electric field threshold to predict the IRE area. However, the predicted lesion anisotropy ratios (width over depth) vary extensively among recent studies, and these discrepancies remain a subject of discussion. Objective: This work aims to evaluate the predicted lesion anisotropy ratios using a PFA computational model by applying it to an open-chest in vivo porcine model geometry. Methods: Six domestic swine underwent epicardial PFA applications using a previously described waveform protocol. Animals were killed at least 3 hours after the last ablation, and lesions were assessed using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Numeric simulations were performed on a segmented and meshed porcine thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan, mimicking the open-chest experimental setup. Results: The maximum width of all simulated lesions was observed at the epicardial surface. The anisotropy ratios (AR) of the experimental lesions were smaller than the simulated ones (AR experimental vs simulated, 1.0–1.7 vs 2–2.7; Q1–Q3 quartiles). Increasing the peak voltage resulted in larger lesions; however, the computational model clearly underestimated the increase in lesion depth compared with the experimental data. Conclusion: Our computational model shows that a single lethal electric field threshold is insufficient to accurately predict both lesion depth and width in cardiac PFA. Our study suggests that for the given PFA waveforms, a threshold between 270 and 500 V/cm provides satisfactory lesion depth estimations, and a higher threshold between 790 and 1000 V/cm better captures the lesion width.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666501825000790Cardiac ablationComputer simulationsPulsed field ablationElectric field thresholdMathematical modeling
spellingShingle Argyrios Petras, PhD
Gerard Amoros Figueras, PhD
Zoraida Moreno Weidmann, MD
Tomás García-Sánchez, PhD
David Viladés Medel, MD, PhD
Antoni Ivorra, PhD
Jose M. Guerra, MD, PhD
Luca Gerardo-Giorda, PhD
Is a single lethal electric field threshold sufficient to characterize the lesion size in computational modeling of cardiac pulsed-field ablation?
Heart Rhythm O2
Cardiac ablation
Computer simulations
Pulsed field ablation
Electric field threshold
Mathematical modeling
title Is a single lethal electric field threshold sufficient to characterize the lesion size in computational modeling of cardiac pulsed-field ablation?
title_full Is a single lethal electric field threshold sufficient to characterize the lesion size in computational modeling of cardiac pulsed-field ablation?
title_fullStr Is a single lethal electric field threshold sufficient to characterize the lesion size in computational modeling of cardiac pulsed-field ablation?
title_full_unstemmed Is a single lethal electric field threshold sufficient to characterize the lesion size in computational modeling of cardiac pulsed-field ablation?
title_short Is a single lethal electric field threshold sufficient to characterize the lesion size in computational modeling of cardiac pulsed-field ablation?
title_sort is a single lethal electric field threshold sufficient to characterize the lesion size in computational modeling of cardiac pulsed field ablation
topic Cardiac ablation
Computer simulations
Pulsed field ablation
Electric field threshold
Mathematical modeling
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666501825000790
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