Ablation for atrial fibrillation: CT overlay or standard electroanatomical mapping?

E E Van Der Wall

doi:10.1007/s12471-012-0301-y

Abstract

Ablation for atrial fibrillation: CT overlay or standard electroanatomical mapping?

Highlights

The outcome of catheter ablation procedures for cardiac arrhythmias depends on the ability to evaluate the underlying mechanism and to depict target sites for ablation [1–10]
Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands e-mail: e.e.van_der_wall@lumc.nl the authors performed circumferential pulmonary vein ablation in 71 patients with atrial fibrillation. They performed 3D reconstructions of the left atrium, which were derived from contrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) and circumferential pulmonary vein isolation
It was demonstrated that the need for subsequent ablations remains high due to a high incidence of recovery of conduction from the pulmonary veins, but the recovery rate was similar to standard techniques

Summary

Introduction

The outcome of catheter ablation procedures for cardiac arrhythmias depends on the ability to evaluate the underlying mechanism and to depict target sites for ablation [1–10]. In the present issue of the Netherlands Heart Journal, Van der Voort et al [25] describe their initial experience with 3D overlay for ablation of atrial fibrillation. They evaluated the feasibility of the CT overlay technique for pulmonary vein antrum isolation and its equivalence to established electroanatomical mapping.

Results

Conclusion