Gene

Ultrasound

Catheter ablation

Ablation

Cardiology

Electroporation

Biochemistry

Catheter

Radiology

Ultrasound energy

Necrosis

Coagulative necrosis

Irreversible electroporation

Staining

Medicine

Chemistry

Gross examination

Stain

Nuclear medicine

Pathology

Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology

Objectives Pulsed electric field (PEF) therapies employ punctuated energy delivery to kill cells in a volume of tissue through mechanisms that are not dependent on thermal processes. A key component to successful cardiac ablation procedures is ensuring the generation of transmural, contiguous ablation zones, which requires in‐depth knowledge regarding treatment sizes for a given therapeutic application. Methods In this study, a series of acute treatments were delivered to porcine ventricles, where triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) vitality stain was used to identify treatment effect sizes for the three focal monopolar CENTAURI PEF cardiac ablation energy settings. Results Treatment depths were 5.7, 7.2, and 8.2 mm for the 19, 22, and 25 A energy settings, respectively. Gross pathology indicated umbral zones of hemorrhage surrounded by pale avital TTC‐negative‐negative tissue, which contrasted significantly from radiofrequency ablation (RF) controls. Histologically, treatment zones are identified by regions of contraction band necrosis and cardiomyocytolysis, which contrasted with RF control lesions composed primarily of coagulation necrosis. Conclusions Together, these data indicate the ability for focal monopolar PEF treatments to generate deep treatment zones in cardiac ablation without incurring the gross or histological coagulative characteristics of RF thermal lesions.

Characteristics of pulsed electric field cardiac ablation porcine treatment zones with a focal catheter