scholarly journals Spatial and quantitative assessment of the correlation between sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation voltage mapping to identify low voltage substrate in persistent atrial fibrillation

EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Nairn ◽  
C Nagel ◽  
B Mueller-Edenborn ◽  
H Lehrmann ◽  
A Jadidi ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) through DO637/22-3 Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg through the Research Seed Capital (RiSC) program. Introduction Presence of left atrial (LA) fibrotic low voltage substrate (LVS) is associated with high risk for arrhythmia recurrences in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF). PVI and additional ablation of LVS - as identified by mapping in sinus rhythm (SR) or AF - has been reported to improve SR maintenance rates, despite differences of the extent and distribution of LA-LVS in SR versus AF.  Aims To study the relationship between SR and AF voltage maps, we sought to identify the optimal AF voltage threshold providing the highest concordance in the extent and distribution of LVS when comparing voltage maps in SR vs. AF. Methods Using the statistical shape modelling software Scalismo, the voltage information from the SR and AF maps (acquired prior to PVI) from 28 patients (66 ± 7 years, 46% male, 82% persistent AF) was projected onto a representative LA-geometry. Sensitivity and specificity of LVS identification were calculated for varying thresholds during AF and the correlation between the SR (threshold 0.5mV) and AF maps was assessed and areas of agreeing LVS classification (SR & AF) were identified for each patient. The data of all 28 patients were combined to a spatial histogram of agreement between SR and AF low voltage maps. Results  The correlation between SR and AF maps was high across all patients, with agreement at 60-95% of all mapped sites (Figure A: each red triangle represents one patient and the respective agreement of LVS classification and substrate extent).  The optimal AF threshold - to identify LA-LVS <0.5 mV in SR - was 0.29 mV (Q1-3: 0.20-0.37 mV) and was independent of the underlying extent of LVS during SR (Figure A: each blue asterisk represents one patient and the corresponding AF threshold and substrate extent). Agreement between LVS in AF vs. SR was high across most (>90) patients on the anterior LA, lateral LA and the left atrial appendage. Lower agreement (60% of patients) was observed in the posterior wall (Figure B). Conclusions SR and AF voltage maps reveal high spatial concordance in low voltage substrate at the anterior LA, lateral LA and LA appendage, however significant discordances in LVS are found in 40% of patients at the posterior LA. Further studies on an extended patient cohort should assess if regional voltage-thresholds would result in an improved substrate concordance between AF and SR substrate maps. Abstract Figure.

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1259-1268
Author(s):  
Shiro Nakahara ◽  
Yuichi Hori ◽  
Naoki Nishiyama ◽  
Yasuo Okumura ◽  
Reiko Fukuda ◽  
...  

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Kress ◽  
Lynn Erickson ◽  
Ana C Perez Moreno ◽  
Imran Niazi ◽  
M. Eyman Mortada ◽  
...  

Introduction: The hybrid, or convergent procedure, uses a minimally invasive combined epicardial/endocardial ablation approach for patients in persistent AF. In the staged hybrid approach, the electrophysiologist performs the endocardial ablation a minimum of 30 days after the surgeon performs epicardial ablation. Placement of a left atrial appendage (LAA) closure device (AtriCure AtriClip) has been shown to electrically isolate the LAA. Added to the scar formation on the posterior wall via epicardial ablation, it eliminates additional substrate in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Hypothesis: Patients with persistent AF who underwent a staged hybrid approach with thoracoscopic placement of the AtriClip may have less likelihood of arrhythmia recurrence between 3 and 12 months compared with those who underwent nonstaged hybrid ablations without use of the AtriClip. Methods: Patients in persistent or long-standing paroxysmal AF underwent ablation using either a staged hybrid approach with AtriClip (n=23) or a nonstaged hybrid approach without AtriClip (n=136). Groups were compared by running a t-test (mean±SD) or Wilcoxon rank sum [median, interquartile range (IQR)]. Categorical data were compared with Pearson’s chi-squared test. Results: Significantly fewer patients who had undergone a staged hybrid with AtriClip recurred with arrhythmia (2, 8.7%) compared to those with a nonstaged, no AtriClip approach (40, 29.4%) (p=0.04) between 3 and 12 months. The staged hybrid approach also had significantly fewer patients requiring cardioversion to restore sinus rhythm during the procedure (p<0.001). Conclusions: A staged hybrid approach with AtriClip placement reduced recurrent arrhythmia between 3 and 12 months compared to a nonstaged hybrid procedure without AtriClip. A benefit was also seen in a steep reduction in the need for cardioversion during the subsequent endocardial ablation to restore sinus rhythm.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Kawaji ◽  
K Ono ◽  
T Aizawa ◽  
M Kato ◽  
T Yokomatsu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Atrial fibrosis is hallmark of structural remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF), but the inflammatory mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to identify the specific inflammatory biomarkers to atrial fibrosis evaluated by atrial low voltage (LV) in AF patients for clarification of the mechanism. Methods Forty inflammatory biomarkers were quantified in 16 consecutive AF patients measured left atrial low voltage during catheter ablation. Results Median %LV area was 17%. In Pearson's correlation analysis, interleukin (IL)-17A and interferon (IFN)-γ was the most significant positive and negative correlation with %LV (R=0.35 and 0.43, P&lt;0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between IL-17A/IFN-γ ratio and %LV (R=0.65, P=0.007). The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve of IL-17A/IFN-γ ratio for significant LV (%LV &gt;10% as a reference standard) was 0.88. IL-17A/IFN-γ ratio was significantly higher in patients with significant LV than those without (1.41 versus 0.97, P=0.01), Furthermore, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting significant LV were 60%, 100%, and 75.0% at the cutoff value of 1.3. The event free survival from recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias was not significantly different between patients with and without IL-17A/IFN-γ ratio &gt;1.3 (83.3% versus 80.0% at 1-year, P=0.81). Conclusions Among inflammatory biomarkers, IL-17A/IFN-γ ratio was a significant predictor for the severity of left atrial low voltage n AF patients. Further study is needed to reveal the association between IL-17A and IFN-γ for development of fibrosis in AF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): JSPS KAKENHI GrantNumber JP19K17594


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Rogers ◽  
N Ravi ◽  
N.K Bhatia ◽  
R.L Shah ◽  
T Pong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The surgical maze is suggested to be effective in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) by reducing the area for fibrillatory wavelets. However, the mechanism for recurrence and next treatment steps are unclear. Purpose We set out to evaluate the impact of complete transmural epicardial maze lesion sets on the extent atrial organization using novel analyses of wide-area recordings of AF. Methods 19 patients (age 50.9±12.0, 78% male) underwent maze followed by endocardial mapping of AF with a 64-pole basket catheter. Block across roof, floor, and pulmonary vein lesions sets was assessed by high-density voltage mapping and organized zones of AF were assessed by panoramic recordings. Total organized area and mean area of the dominant site were evaluated using automated custom scripts. Results Patients had 3.2±0.9 organized regions in 1 minute of LA recordings. A 54 yo F showed residual conduction to the posterior wall from the roof (purple, Fig. 1A) and a figure-of-8 propagation pattern during AF (arrows, fig B) which terminated with localized ablation (yellow lesions, Fig. 1A, red X, Fig. 1B). Overall, patients with complete block on epicardial lesion set had smaller areas of organization (13.7±8% vs. 45.7±32% of mapped areas, p=0.029) vs. those with gaps. The average size of the dominant area was smaller with complete transmural lines than with gaps (5.7±3% vs. 15.9±10%, p=0.033) (Fig. 1C). Conclusion These results show that complete transmural lesion sets constrain the critical mass available for AF, with smaller resulting organized zones. Future studies that quantify how partitioning the atrial surface affects AF may help personalize lesion sets after maze. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): NIH NRSA F32 United States


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 3129
Author(s):  
Riyaz A. Kaba ◽  
Aziz Momin ◽  
John Camm

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a global disease with rapidly rising incidence and prevalence. It is associated with a higher risk of stroke, dementia, cognitive decline, sudden and cardiovascular death, heart failure and impairment in quality of life. The disease is a major burden on the healthcare system. Paroxysmal AF is typically managed with medications or endocardial catheter ablation to good effect. However, a large proportion of patients with AF have persistent or long-standing persistent AF, which are more complex forms of the condition and thus more difficult to treat. This is in part due to the progressive electro-anatomical changes that occur with AF persistence and the spread of arrhythmogenic triggers and substrates outside of the pulmonary veins. The posterior wall of the left atrium is a common site for these changes and has become a target of ablation strategies to treat these more resistant forms of AF. In this review, we discuss the role of the posterior left atrial wall in persistent and long-standing persistent AF, the limitations of current endocardial-focused treatment strategies, and future perspectives on hybrid epicardial–endocardial approaches to posterior wall isolation or ablation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G R Rios-Munoz ◽  
N Soto ◽  
P Avila ◽  
T Datino ◽  
F Atienza ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains sub-optimal, with low success in pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation procedures in long-standing-persistent AF patients. The maintenance mechanisms of AF are still under debate. Rotational activity (RA) events, also known as rotors, may play a role in perpetuating AF. The characterisation of these drivers during electroanatomical (EA) guided ablation procedures in relationship with follow-up and recurrence ratios in AF patients is necessary to design new ablation strategies to improve the AF treatment success. Purpose We report an AF patient cohort of endocardial mapping and PVI ablation procedures with additional RA events detected during the EA study. We aim to study the presence and distribution of RA in AF patients and its impact on AF recurrence when only PVI ablation is performed. Methods 75 persistent consecutive AF patients (age 60.7±9.8, 74.7% men) underwent EA mapping and RA detection with an automatic algorithm. The presence of RA was annotated on the EA map based on the unipolar electrograms (EGMs) registered with a 20-pole catheter. RA presence was analysed at different left atrial locations (37.2±14.8 sites per patient). AF recurrence was evaluated in follow-up after treatment. Results At follow-up (9±5 months), 50% of the patients presented AF recurrence. Patients with RA had more dilated atria in terms of volumes (p=0.002) and areas (p=0.001). Patients with RA exhibited higher mean voltage EGMs 0.6±0.3 mV vs 0.5±0.2 mV (p=0.036), with shorter cycle lengths 169.1±26.0 ms vs. 188.4±44.2 ms (p=0.044). Finally, patients with RA presented more AF recurrence rates than patients with no RA events (p=0.007). No significant differences were found in terms of comorbidities, e.g., heart failure, hypertension, COPD, stroke, SHD, or diabetes mellitus. Conclusions The results show that patients with more RA events and those with RA outside the PVI ablated regions presented higher AF recurrence episodes than those with no RA or events inside the areas affected by radio-frequency ablation. The study suggests that further ablation treatment of the areas harboring RA might be necessary to reduce the recurrence ratio in AF patients. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Instituto de Salud Carlos III; Sociedad Española de Cardiología


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola Gianni ◽  
Jerri A Cunningham ◽  
Sanghamitra Mohanty ◽  
CHINTAN TRIVEDI ◽  
Domenico G Della Rocca ◽  
...  

Background: Left atrial (LA) scar can be identified with bipolar voltage mapping during sinus rhythm (SR). It is not clear whether the same voltage criteria can be applied during atrial fibrillation (AF). Objective: Aim of this study was to compare voltage maps performed in the same patient both in AF and SR. Methods: Voltage mapping was performed using a 10-pole circular mapping catheter in patients with non-paroxysmal AF undergoing first time RF ablation. For descriptive purposes, the LA was divided in 6 regions: septum, posterior wall (PW), inferior wall (IW), lateral wall, anterior wall, and roof. The threshold for low voltage was <0.5 mV (with a color range setting 0.2-0.5 mV). Mild “scar” was defined as an area low voltage 5-20%, moderate 20-35% and severe as >35%. Results: 16 patients (62% persistent AF, 38% longstanding persistent AF) were included in the study. The map density was comparable during AF and SR (mean points per map 551 vs 547, paired t test P = NS). 2 patients displayed normal voltage during both AF and SR. 14 patients showed areas of low voltage during AF, which were still present during SR in 8. All patients with mild “scarring” during AF (n = 4), showed normal voltage during SR. Of the 7 patients with moderate “scarring”, 2 patients showed normal voltage during SR, while in the remaining 5 “scarring” was only mild during SR. 3 patients showed extensive “scarring” during AF, which was only moderate during SR. During AF, areas of low voltage were more commonly observed in the PW (12/14) followed by the IW (6/14) and antero-septum (4/14); while in SR, in the antero-septum (4/8), PW (3/8) and IW (3/8). Interestingly, in all patients both the PW/IW and (less dramatically) the antero-septum showed more “scarring” during AF as compared to SR. Conclusion: Areas of low voltage are more severe and diffuse during AF when compared to SR. When areas of low voltage are detected during AF, they are more commonly seen in the PW, IW and antero-septal areas.


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