Mads Brix Kronborg

Endo-/Epicardial Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Feasibility, Outcome, and Insights into Arrhythmia Mechanisms

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Christopher Piorkowski, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Mads Kronborg
  • Jerome Hourdain, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Judith Piorkowski, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Bettina Kirstein, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Sebastian Neudeck, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Simon Wechselberger, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Ellen Päßler, Steinbeis Research Institute 'Electrophysiology and Cardiac Devices'
  • ,
  • Anastasia Löwen, Steinbeis Research Institute 'Electrophysiology and Cardiac Devices'
  • ,
  • Ali El-Armouche, Technische Universität Dresden
  • ,
  • Julia Mayer, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Stefan Ulbrich, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Liying Pu, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Utz Richter, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Thomas Gaspar, Heart Center Dresden
  • ,
  • Yan Huo, Heart Center Dresden

Background: Until today, catheter interventional mapping and ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been limited to the right and left atrial endocardium. We report feasibility, electrophysiological findings, and clinical outcome using a combined endo-/epicardial catheter approach for mapping and ablation of AF. Methods and Results: Fifty-nine patients with permanence of pulmonary vein isolation and further symptomatic recurrences of paroxysmal AF, persistent AF, or atrial tachycardia underwent reablation using biatrial endo-/epicardial mapping and ablation. Identification of arrhythmia substrates and selection of ablation strategy were based on sinus rhythm voltage mapping. Using continuous monitoring and a 3-month blanking period, freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia ≥2 minutes was defined as primary end point. In all patients, endo-/epicardial mapping and ablation was feasible using standard technologies of catheter access, 3-dimensional mapping, and radiofrequency ablation. Epicardial mapping and ablation did not add procedural risks. Exclusively epicardial low voltage substrates were found in 14% of the patients. For the first time, novel epicardial conduction abnormalities located in the epicardial fiber network were described in human AF patients (19% of the cohort). Epicardial ablation was needed in 80% of the patients. Over 23±10 months of follow-up freedom from arrhythmia recurrences measured 73%. Conclusions: Catheter-based endo-/epicardial mapping and ablation of AF was feasible and safe. Epicardial mapping provided new insights into AF mechanisms. Epicardial ablation increased transmurality of ablation lesions. Clinical outcome in this cohort of complex AF patients was favorable, indicating potential further development of current AF treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere005748
JournalCirculation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology
Volume11
Issue2
ISSN1941-3149
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2018

    Research areas

  • atrial fibrillation, catheter ablation, endocardium, epicardial mapping, recurrence

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