Histopathologic Changes in the Heart Including the Conduction System after Catheter Ablation

Abstract

The pathology of the heart, including that of the conduction system, after various catheter techniques used to ablate the various parts of the conduction system and the myocardium, were examined histologically by serial sections. The experiments were conducted on canines. The conduction system studies included the approaches to the AV node, the AV node, the AV bundle and bundle branches, as well as, the central fibrous body, the tricuspid, mitral and aortic valves. The methods of ablation were DC shock, laser and radio frequency energy. Production of the complete AV block clinically was associated with fibrosis with or without cartilage formation of the approaches to the AV node, the AV node, the bundle and the beginning of the bundle branches in most cases. On the other hand, creation of first degree AV block was associated with fibrotic changes in the approaches to the AV node and the AV node, and second degree block with more changes to the AV node. Coronary sinus ablation resulted in necrosis and fibrosis of the coronary sinus wall with occasional thrombosis of the coronary sinus. The adjacent atrial and/or the ventricular myocardium also showed fibrosis. Likewise, ventricular septal ablation was associated with focal areas of fibrosis of the myocardium. The conduction system was intact in both of the above experiments. In one human where complete AV block was created to manage intractable atrial fibrillation, the AV node, the bundle, and the bundle branches were fibrosed. In addition, there was a fibrosed atrio-Hisian connection and the patient died suddenly six weeks after the ablative procedure. The surrounding structures close to the vicinity of the conduction system, such as the aortic, tricuspid, mitral valve, the central fibrous body, and the summit ventricular septum are involved to a varying degree. In summary, (1) Whatever the method of ablation may be, the end result was fibrosis with or without cartilage formation of the ablative area. (2) Congenital anomalies of the conduction system such as an atrio-Hisian connection may remain elusive for ablative methods, and arrhythmias may persist and may cause sudden death in some cases.