Abstract
For the last decades the number of catheter ablations of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been steadily increasing.
There are several catheter ablation patterns depending on the type of AF. Multiple ablations in the left atrium
lead to the formation of fibrous zones which are considered to be the substrate for the development of
scar-related arrhythmias. Focal atrial tachycardia develop usually after segmental ostial pulmonary vein isolation
due to vein reconnection. Linear ablation strategies lead to the macro-reentrant atrial tachycardia and
local reentries. From a practical point of view following algorithm of atrial tachycardia identification may be
presented: 1) look for the pulmonary veins associated tachycardia; 2) exclude macro-reentry tachycardia;
3) map focal or local reentry, if presented. After mapping of the breakthroughs in the ablation lines, entrainment
pacing for the detection of arrhythmia mechanism is useful. Special cardiac navigation systems are
often used for the verification of arrhythmia mechanism. Vast majority of postablational arrhythmia may be
successfully mapped using navigation systems combined with electrograms analysis and entrainment pacing
maneuvers. Nowadays navigation systems allow to create geometry of the heart chambers and study activation
sequence during focal and macro-reentry arrhythmia. But modern navigation techniques are very helpful
in combination with classic electrophysiology principles and maneuvers for the arrhythmia verification.
References
- Haissaguerre M., Jais P., Shah D.C., Takahashi A.,
Hocini M., Quiniou G. et al. Spontaneous initiation
of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating in
the pulmonary veins. N. Engl. J. Med. 1998;
339(10): 659-66.
- Ouyang F., Bansch D., Ernst S., Schaumann A.,
Hachiya H., Chen M. et al. Complete isolation of
left atrium surrounding the pulmonary veins: new
insights from the double-Lasso technique in paroxysmal
atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2004; 110(15):
2090-6.
- Marrouche N.F., Dresing T., Cole C., Bash D.,
Saad E. et al. Circular mapping and ablation of the
pulmonary vein for treatment of atrial fibrillation:
impact of different catheter technologies. J. Am.
Coll. Cardiol. 2002; 40(3): 464-74.
- Pappone C., Augello G., Sala S., Gugliotta F.,
Vicedomini G., Gulletta S. et al. A randomized trial of
circumferential pulmonary vein ablation versus
antiarrhythmic drug therapy in paroxysmal atrial
fibrillation: the APAF Study. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.
2006; 48(11): 2340-7.
- Haissaguerre M., Sanders P., Hocini M., Takahashi
Y., Rotter M., Sacher F. et al. Catheter ablation
of long-lasting persistent atrial fibrillation: critical
structures for termination. J. Cardiovasc.
Electrophysiol. 2005; 16(11): 1125-37.
- Oral H., Chugh A., Good E., Wimmer A., Dey S.,
Gadeela N. et al. Radiofrequency catheter ablation
of chronic atrial fibrillation guided by complex electrograms.
Circulation. 2007; 115(20): 2606-12.
- Nademanee K., Schwab M.C., Kosar E.M., Karwecki
M., Moran M.D., Visessook N. et al. Clinical
outcomes of catheter substrate ablation for high-risk
patients with atrial fibrillation. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.
2008; 51(8): 843-9.
- Бокерия Л.А., Бокерия О.Л., Меликулов А.Х., За-
варина А.Ю., Мордвинова А.С. Хирургическое
лечение фибрилляции предсердий: современное
состояние проблемы. Анналы аритмологии.
2009; 6(2): 5-11.
- Pappone C., Manguso F., Vicedomini G., Gugliotta F.,
Santinelli O., Ferro A. et al. Prevention of iatrogenic
atrial tachycardia after ablation of atrial fibrillation:
a prospective randomized study comparing circumferential
pulmonary vein ablation with a modified
approach. Circulation. 2004; 110(19): 3036-42.
- Knecht S., Hocini M., Wright M., Lellouche N.,
O'Neill M.D., Matsuo S. et al. Left atrial linear
lesions are required for successful treatment of persistent
atrial fibrillation. Eur. Heart J. 2008; 29(19):
2359-66.
- Бокерия О.Л., Меликулов А.Х. Возможные осложнения
катетерной аблации различных видов
тахиаритмий. Анналы аритмологии. 2011;
8(3): 14-20.
- Chugh A., Oral H., Lemola K., Hall B., Cheung P.,
Good E. et al. Prevalence, mechanisms, and clinical
significance of macroreentrant atrial tachycardia
during and following left atrial ablation for atrial
fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. 2005; 2(5): 464-71.
- Karch M.R., ZrennerB., DeisenhoferI., Schreieck J.,
Ndrepepa G., Dong J. et al. Freedom from atrial
tachyarrhythmias after catheter ablation of atrial
fibrillation: a randomized comparison between 2
current ablation strategies. Circulation. 2005;
111(22): 2875-80.
- Deisenhofer I., Estner H., Zrenner B., Schreieck J.,
Weyerbrock S., Hessling G. et al. Left atrial tachycardia
after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation
for atrial fibrillation: incidence, electrophysiological
characteristics, and results of radiofrequency
ablation. Europace. 2006; 8(8): 573-82.
- Satomi K. Electrophysiological characteristics of
atrial tachycardia after pulmonary vein isolation of
atrial fibrillation. Circ. J. 2010; 74(6): 1051-8.
- Wasmer K., Monnig G., Bittner A., Dechering D.,
Zellerhoff S., Milberg P. et al. Incidence, characteristics,
and outcome of left atrial tachycardias after
circumferential antral ablation of atrial fibrillation.
Heart Rhythm. 2012. 9(10): 1660-6.
- Ревишвили А.Ш., Нардая Ш.Г., Рзаев Ф.Г., Мус-
тапаева З.В., Котанова Е.С. Электрофизиоло-
гические и клинические предикторы эффективности
радиочастотной аблации легочных
вен и левого предсердия у пациентов с персис-
тирующей формой фибрилляции предсердий.
Анналы аритмологии. 2014; 11(1): 46-53.
- Haissaguerre M., Hocini M., Sanders P.,
Takahashi Y., Rotter M., Sacher F. et al. Localized
sources maintaining atrial fibrillation organized by
prior ablation. Circulation. 2006; 113(5): 616-25.
- Gerstenfeld E.P., Callans D.J., Dixit S., Russo A.M.,
Nayak H., Lin D. et al. Mechanisms of organized
left atrial tachycardias occurring after pulmonary
vein isolation. Circulation. 2004; 110(11): 1351-7.
- Ouyang F., Antz M., Ernst S., Hachiya H., Mavrakis
H., Deger F.T., Schaumann A., Chun J., Falk P.
et al. Recovered pulmonary vein conduction as a
dominant factor for recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias
after complete circular isolation of the pulmonary
veins: lessons from double Lasso technique.
Circulation. 2005; 111(2): 127-35.
- Willems S., Klemm H., Rostock T., Brandstrup B.,
Ventura R., Steven D. et al. Substrate modification
combined with pulmonary vein isolation improves
outcome of catheter ablation in patients with persistent
atrial fibrillation: a prospective randomized
comparison. Eur. Heart J. 2006; 27(23): 2871-8.
- Mesas C.E., Pappone C., Lang C.C., Gugliotta F.,
Tomita T., Vicedomini G. et al. Left atrial tachycardia
after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation for atrial
fibrillation: electroanatomic characterization and
treatment. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2004; 44(5): 1071-9.
- Chae S., Oral H., Good E., Dey S., Wimmer A.,
Crawford T. et al. Atrial tachycardia after circumferential
pulmonary vein ablation of atrial fibrillation:
mechanistic insights, results of catheter ablation,
and risk factors for recurrence. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.
2007; 50(18): 1781-7.
- KistlerP.M., Roberts-Thomson K.C., Haqqani H.M.,
Fynn S.P., Singarayar S., Vohra J.K. et al. P-wave
morphology in focal atrial tachycardia: development
of an algorithm to predict the anatomic site of
origin. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2006; 48(5): 1010-7.
- Haissaguerre M., Shah D.C., Jais P., Hocini M.,
Yamane T., Deisenhofer I. et al. Electrophysiological
breakthroughs from the left atrium to the pulmonary
veins. Circulation. 2000; 102(20): 2463-5.
- Shah D., Sunthorn H., Burri H., Gentil-Baron P.,
Pruvot E., Schlaepfer J. et al. Narrow, slow-conducting
isthmus dependent left atrial reentry developing
after ablation for atrial fibrillation: ECG
characterization and elimination by focal RF ablation.
J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 2006; 17(5):
508-15.
- Satomi K., Bansch D., Tilz R., Chun J., Ernst S.,
Antz M. et al. Left atrial and pulmonary vein
macroreentrant tachycardia associated with double
conduction gaps: a novel type of man-made tachycardia
after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation.
Heart Rhythm. 2008; 5(1): 43-51.
- Sanders P., Hocini M., Jais P., Hsu L.F., Takahashi
Y., Rotter M. et al. Characterization of
focal atrial tachycardia using high-density mapping.
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2005; 46(11): 2088-99.
- O'NeillM.D., HociniM., Matsuo S., Haissaguerre M.
Twin perimitral atrial flutters with alternating cycle
lengths. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 2007; 18(4):
455-6.
- Shah D., Jais P., Takahashi A., Hocini M., Peng J.T.
et al. Dual-loop intra-atrial reentry in humans.
Circulation. 2000; 101(6): 631-9.
- Waldo A.L. From bedside to bench: entrainment
and other stories. Heart Rhythm. 2004; 1(1):
94-106.
- Mohamed U., Skanes A.C., Gula L.J., Leong-Sit P.,
Krahn A.D., Yee R. et al. A novel pacing maneuver to
localize focal atrial tachycardia. J. Cardiovasc.
Electrophysiol. 2007; 18(1): 1-6.
- Chen S.A., Chiang C.E., Yang C.J., Cheng C.C.,
Wu T.J., Wang S.P. et al. Sustained atrial tachycardia
in adult patients. Electrophysiological characteristics,
pharmacological response, possible mechanisms,
and effects of radiofrequency ablation.
Circulation. 1994; 90(3): 1262-78.
- Colombowala I.K., Massumi A., Rasekh A., SaeedM,
Cheng J., Fakhri B. et al. Variability in post-pacing
intervals predicts global atrial activation pattern during
tachycardia. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 2008;
19(2): 142-7.
- Klein G.J., Leong-Sit P., Manlucu J., Purves P.D.,
Skanes A.C., Yee R. Electrophysiological maneuvers
for arrhythmia analysis. Minneapolis, Minnesota;
2014: 53-64.
- Miyazaki S., Takagi T., Matsuda J., Iesaka Y.
Perimitral atrial tachycardia passing through a completely
blocked mitral isthmus line? Heart Rhythm.
2015; 12(9): 2038-40.
- Miyazaki S., Shah A.J., Hocini M., Haissaguerre M.,
Jais P. Recurrent spontaneous clinical perimitral
atrial tachycardia in the context of atrial fibrillation
ablation. Heart Rhythm. 2015; 12(1): 104-10.
- Knecht S., Skali H., O'Neill M.D., Wright M,
Matsuo S., Chaudhry G.M. et al. Computed tomography-
fluoroscopy overlay evaluation during
catheter ablation of left atrial arrhythmia. Europace.
2008. 10(8): 931-8.
- Arentz T., von Rosenthal J., Blum T., Stockinger J.,
Burkle G., Weber R. et al. Feasibility and safety of
pulmonary vein isolation using a new mapping and
navigation system in patients with refractory atrial
fibrillation. Circulation. 2003; 108(20): 2484-90.
- Sra J., Krum D., Hare J., OkerlundD., Thompson H.,
Vass M.et al. Feasibility and validation of registration
of three-dimensional left atrial models derived from
computed tomography with a noncontact cardiac
mapping system. Heart Rhythm. 2005; 2(1): 55-63.
- Pappone C., Oreto G., Lamberti F., Vicedomini G.,
Loricchio M.L., Shpun S. et al. Catheter ablation of
paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using a 3D mapping
system. Circulation. 1999; 100(11): 1203-8.
- Ernst S., Ouyang F., Lober F., Antz M., Kuck K.H.
Catheter-induced linear lesions in the left atrium in
patients with atrial fibrillation: an electroanatomic
study. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2003. 42(7): 1271-82.
- Martinek M., Nesser H.J., Aichinger J., Boehm G.,
Purerfellner H. et al. Impact of integration of multislice
computed tomography imaging into threedimensional
electroanatomic mapping on clinical
outcomes, safety, and efficacy using radiofrequency
ablation for atrial fibrillation. Pacing Clin.
Electrophysiol. 2007; 30(10): 1215-23.
- Piorkowski C., Hindricks G., Schreiber D., Tanner
H., Weise W., Koch A. et al. Electroanatomic
reconstruction of the left atrium, pulmonary veins,
and esophagus compared with the "true anatomy"
on multislice computed tomography in patients
undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.
Heart Rhythm. 2006. 3(3): 317-27.
- Sra J., Narayan G., Krum D., Malloy A., Cooley R.,
Bhatia A. et al. Computed tomography-fluoroscopy
image integration-guided catheter ablation of atrial
fibrillation. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 2007;
18(4): 409-14.
- Takahashi Y., O'Neill M.D., Hocini M., Dubois R.,
Matsuo S., Knecht S. et al. Characterization of electrograms
associated with termination of chronic
atrial fibrillation by catheter ablation. J. Am. Coll.
Cardiol. 2008; 51(10): 1003-10.
- Sanders P., Berenfeld O., Hocini M., Jais P.,
Vaidyanathan R., Hsu L.F. et al. Spectral analysis
identifies sites of high-frequency activity maintaining
atrial fibrillation in humans. Circulation. 2005;
112(6): 789-97.
- Knecht S., Veenhuyzen G., O'Neill M.D., Wright M.,
Nault I., Weerasooriya R. et al. Atrial tachycardias
encountered in the context of catheter ablation for
atrial fibrillation part ii: mapping and ablation.
Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol. 2009; 32(4): 528-38.
- Anter E., Tschabrunn C.M., Contreras-Valdes F.M.,
Buxton A.E., Josephson M.E. Radiofrequency ablation
annotation algorithm reduces the incidence of
linear gaps and reconnection after pulmonary vein
isolation. Heart Rhythm. 2014; 11(5): 783-90.
- Yokokawa M., Latchamsetty R., Ghanbari H.,
Belardi D., Makkar A., Roberts B. et al. Characteristics
of atrial tachycardia due to small vs large reentrant
circuits after ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation.
Heart Rhythm. 2013; 10(4): 469-76.