Results
The RF wire required on average 1.10 ± 0.47 attempts to cross the septum. The 0.014” electrified guidewire required an overall mean of 2.17 ± 2.36 attempts (2.0 times as many as the RF wire; p<0.01), and the 0.032” electrified guidewire required an overall mean of 3.90 ± 2.93 attempts (3.5 times as many as the RF wire; p<0.01). Electrified guidewires had a higher rate of TSP failure, and caused larger defects and more tissue charring than the RF wire. Thermal analysis showed higher temperatures and a larger area of tissue heating with electrified guidewires than the RF wire.