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Left atrial voltage mapping using a new impedance‐based algorithm in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Author(s) -
Asvestas Dimitrios,
Vlachos Konstantinos,
Bazoukis George,
Martin Claire A.,
Letsas Konstantinos P.,
Sakellaropoulou Antigoni,
Kossyvakis Charalampos,
Saplaouras Athanasios,
Prappa Efstathia,
Goga Christina,
Vassilikos Vassilios,
Valkanas Kosmas,
Deftereos Spiridon,
Sideris Antonios,
Efremidis Michael
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/pace.13501
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , pulmonary vein , sinus rhythm , cardiology , catheter ablation , paroxysmal atrial fibrillation , ablation
Abstract Aims Atrial fibrosis is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to evaluate the extent of left atrial (LA) scarring in patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) undergoing catheter ablation using a new impedance‐based algorithm. Methods We prospectively enrolled 73 consecutive patients (43 males, 58 years) with PAF who underwent pulmonary vein antral isolation. We first performed high‐density bipolar voltage mapping during sinus rhythm using Tissue Proximity Indicator (TPI), one of the features of the ConfiDense mapping module integrated in the electroanatomic mapping system. A dense LA shell was created initially without TPI (mean points 2,411) and subsequently activating TPI (mean points 1,167). Each point was classified according to the peak‐to‐peak bipolar voltage electrogram based on two criteria (criterion A: healthy >0.8 mV, border zone: 0.4–0.8 mV, scarred: <0.4 mV; criterion B: healthy: >0.5 mV, border zone: 0.25–0.5 mV, scarred: <0.25 mV). Results LA voltage analysis represented significantly smaller scarred areas when mapping was performed with TPI‐ON compared with TPI‐OFF in both voltage criteria (average LA voltage area: 3.02 ± 5.28 cm 2 vs 9.15 ± 13.11 cm 2 vs in criterion A and 1.19 ± 2.54 cm 2 vs 5.61 ± 9.56 cm 2 in criterion B). A statistically significant voltage difference was observed in all segments of the left atrium between the two mapping protocols, particularly on the inferior wall. Conclusion A more specific delineation of LA fibrosis may be produced using the TPI feature of the ConfiDense mapping module, through elimination of false‐positive annotated mapping points due to low contact.