Open AccessFluoroscopy-Free Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and a Patent Foramen Ovale Using Solely an Electroanatomic Mapping System
Author(s) -
Michael Kühne,
Sven Knecht,
Aline Mühl,
Tobias Reichlin,
Nikola Pavlović,
Arnheid Kessel-Schaefer,
Beat A. Kaufmann,
Beat Schaer,
Christian Sticherling,
Stefan Oßwald
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0148059
Subject(s) - fluoroscopy , medicine , atrial fibrillation , coronary sinus , pulmonary vein , patent foramen ovale , cardiology , catheter ablation , catheter , ostium , radiology , ablation , percutaneous
The advent of electroanatomical mapping (EAM) systems for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has dramatically decreased radiation exposure. However, the need for some fluoroscopy remains for obtaining left atrial (LA) access. The aim was to test the feasibility of fluoroscopy-free PVI in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and a patent foramen ovale (PFO) guided solely by an EAM system. Methods Consecutive patients with AF undergoing PVI and documented PFO were studied. An EAM-guided approach without fluoroscopy and ultrasound was used. After completing the map of the right atrium, the superior vena cava and the coronary sinus, a catheter pull-down to the PFO was performed allowing LA access. The map of the LA and subsequent PVI was also performed without fluoroscopy. Results 30 patients [age 61±12 years, 73% male, ejection fraction 0.64 (0.53–0.65), LA size in parasternal long axis 38±7 mm] undergoing PVI were included. The time required for right atrial mapping including transseptal crossing was 9±4 minutes. Total procedure time was 127±37 minutes. Fluoroscopy-free PVI was feasible in 26/30 (87%) patients. In four patients, fluoroscopy was needed to access (n = 3) or to re-access (n = 1) the LA. In these four patients, total fluoroscopy time was 5±3 min and the DAP was 14.9±13.4 Gy*cm 2 . Single-procedure success rate was 80% (24/30) after a median follow-up of 12 months. Conclusion In patients with a documented PFO, completely fluoroscopy-free PVI is feasible in the vast majority of cases.