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Anatomical targets and expected outcomes of catheter‐based ablation of atrial fibrillation in 2020
Author(s) -
La Rosa Giulio,
Quintanilla Jorge G.,
Salgado Ricardo,
GonzálezFerrer Juan José,
CañadasGodoy Victoria,
PérezVillacastín Julián,
Jalife José,
PérezCastellano Nicasio,
FilgueirasRama David
Publication year - 2021
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.14140
Subject(s) - medicine , ablation , pulmonary vein , atrial fibrillation , cardiology , catheter ablation , coronary sinus , radiofrequency ablation , catheter , paroxysmal atrial fibrillation , radiology
Anatomical‐based approaches, targeting either pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) or additional extra PV regions, represent the most commonly used ablation treatments in symptomatic patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences despite antiarrhythmic drug therapy. PVI remains the main anatomical target during catheter‐based AF ablation, with the aid of new technological advances as contact force monitoring to increase safety and effective radiofrequency (RF) lesions. Nowadays, cryoballoon ablation has also achieved the same level of scientific evidence in patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing PVI. In parallel, electrical isolation of extra PV targets has progressively increased, which is associated with a steady increase in complex cases undergoing ablation. Several atrial regions as the left atrial posterior wall, the vein of Marshall, the left atrial appendage, or the coronary sinus have been described in different series as locations potentially involved in AF initiation and maintenance. Targeting these regions may be challenging using conventional point‐by‐point RF delivery, which has opened new opportunities for coadjuvant alternatives as balloon ablation or selective ethanol injection. Although more extensive ablation may increase intraprocedural AF termination and freedom from arrhythmias during the follow‐up, some of the targets to achieve such outcomes are not exempt of potential severe complications. Here, we review and discuss current anatomical approaches and the main ablation technologies to target atrial regions associated with AF initiation and maintenance.