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Introduction: The Heliostar™ ablation system is a novel RF balloon ablation technology with an integrated three‐dimensional mapping system. Here, we describe our early experience and procedural outcomes using this technology for atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. Methods: We sought to comprehensively assess the first 60 consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation using the novel HELISOTAR™ RF balloon technology including procedural outcomes. A comparison of the workflow between two different anaesthetic modalities (conscious sedation [CS] vs. general anaesthesia [GA]) was made. Procedural data were collected prospectively from two high‐volume centers (Barts Heart Centre, UK and University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich). A standardized approach for catheter ablation was employed. Results: A total of 35 patients had the procedure under CS and the remaining under GA. Mean procedural and fluoroscopy times were 84 ± 33 min and 1.1 min. The median duration of RF energy application was 7 (5–9.8) mins per patient. All veins were successfully isolated, and the median isolation time was 10 (7–15) seconds. Our cohort's rate of procedural complications was low, with no mortality within 30 days postprocedure. Conclusion: Our early experience shows that catheter ablation using the Heliostar™ technology can be performed efficiently and safely; however, long‐term data is yet to be established. Low fluoroscopy requirements, short learning curves and use of this technology with CS is possible, including the use of an oesophageal temperature probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The present study aimed (1) to analyze the relative paraspinal autochthonous intramuscular fat volume before and after radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) and (2) to compare it to the contralateral non-treated side. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern. Subjects Twenty patients (59.60 ± 8.49 years; 55% female) with chronic low back pain, treated with RFN (L2/3—L5/S1) due to symptomatic facet joint syndrome (FCS) between 2008 and 2017 were included. Methods All patients received a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine before and at a minimum of 6 months after RFN. The absolute (cm3) and relative (%) paraspinal muscle and fat volume was analyzed three-dimensionally on standard T2–MRI sequences using a newly developed software (iSix, Osiris plugin). Both sides were examined and allocated as treated or non-treated side. Results A total of 31 treated and 9 non-treated sides (Level L2/3–L5/S1) were examined. There were no differences in the relative paraspinal intramuscular fat volume before and at a median of 1.4 [0.9 – 2.6] years after RFN (P  = .726). We found no differences in the relative fat volume between the treated and non-treated side before (P  = .481) and after (P  = .578) RFN. Conclusions Our study shows that there are no differences in the paraspinal muscle/fat distribution after RFN. RFN of the medial branches for FCS does not seem to cause fatty degeneration of the lumbar paraspinal muscles as a sign of iatrogenic muscle denervation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]