Journal
CIRCULATION
Volume 106, Issue 11, Pages 1317-1320Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000033115.92612.F4
Keywords
fibrillation; veins; catheter ablation; mapping
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background-The superior vena cava (SVC) is one of the sources of ectopies that can initiate atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated by radiofrequency ablation the electrophysiological characteristics of the junction of the right atrium (RA) and the SVC and the feasibility of electrical disconnection of the SVC from the RA. Methods and Results-Sixteen patients with paroxysmal AF after pulmonary vein isolation underwent electroanatomic mapping at the RA-SVC junction during sinus rhythm. Mapping showed sharp potentials (SVC potentials) inside the SVC. Activation spread from the earliest SVC potential (breakthrough) to the rest of the SVC. SVC potentials were found over a large amount of the circumference, suggesting widespread muscle coverage of the SVC. Breakthroughs from the RA to SVC were located anteriorly, laterally, posteriorly, and septally in 3, 4, 10, and 6 patients, respectively. The number of breakthroughs was 1.4 +/- 0.5 per patient. Radiofrequency energy was applied with the end point of electrical disconnection. All breakthroughs were eliminated with 3.1 +/- 1.7 applications per breakthrough without complications. Conclusions-SVC potentials can be recorded inside the SVC. There are specific breakthroughs from the RA to the SVC that can be identified by electroanatomic mapping. The electrical disconnection of the SVC from the RA is feasible.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available